26 Jun
Independent MP Tony Windsor has become the second big-name retirement from the federal Parliament during a dramatic day in Canberra, which has escalated with the Prime Minister calling a Labor leadership ballot at 7pm.

26 Jun
There were those who laid eyes this week upon the picture of Prime Minister Julia Gillard happily knitting and, searching for a literary metaphor, settled upon Charles Dickens' mistress of vengeance, Madame Defarge.

27 Jun
Kevin Rudd plans to visit Governor-General Quentin Bryce on Thursday to be commissioned as prime minister after replacing Julia Gillard as Labor leader as the government all but collapsed on Wednesday night, losing its leader and much of its frontbench.

27 Jun
Kevin Rudd will again be sworn in as Prime Minister by the Governor-General at 9.30am on Thursday after winning the Labor leadership in a ballot against former prime minister Julia Gillard.

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Featured comment:

Very gracious speech by Gillard and a strong one by Swan also. She has always been impressive when dealing with matters like this. Hope that she finds a position after politics that will be better suited to her many strengths.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 9:48PM

Sort comments by:

Hey may have meant sinning. It sunk long ago and sinning certainly sums up Labors governance of our economy.

Commenter

Ship

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 7:33PM

Couldn't agree more! Rudd has been "stirring" the pot since he was booted out. A leopard doesn't change its spots - I hope Rudd loses the vote and resigns. I am sick of his undermining.

Commenter

John

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:48PM

Damn Iv'e missed the Bold and Beautiful?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:17PM

She'll need more than luck what with all of that sexism and abortion being the plaything of men. How many women are there in caucus?

Bye Jool's happy camping near the lake. Take up fishing, you can blame the one that got away.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:15PM

Not so much the night of the long knives, as the night of the blue pens? Does Labor really think that a late change in favour of the self professed 'saviour' of the party will actually help. Do us a favour, Kevin, declare your resignation and take up that position overseas. Then let the public decide the form and future of the ALP. The sheer arrogance of those stating that we cannot use the R word tells us just how out of touch with reality they have actually become. Governments lose office - oppositions do not win office - the government will hand victory hands victory to Abbott on a platter.

Commenter

Sonja, NSW

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:49PM

Poll Results so far: Who would give the Labor Party the best chance of winning the federal election?

Rudd 52%Gillard 11%A different candidate 37%

Told you it would get worse for the status quo. Time for change in the name of voters.

for the love of God why is it that Gillard seems to put her own career first before that of her country I am a great believer you govern to the best interests of Australia and be completely selfless, not govern what is it the best for your own job, then the party and then the country. Grow up Australia the bafoonery and incomptence must stop, throw the Gillard (aka back stabber) out so Australia can go forward and be served by a less self obsessed person.

Commenter

David Pavlovski

Location

Berwick

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:45PM

Albo, the Australian people are about to endure about a decade at least of ALP navel gazing.

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:43PM

Will someone circulate a petition calling for the release of a LNP policy. You don't even need to cost them just release them and be prepared to articulate them in some detail. No more thought bubbles, no more 3 word slogans, a policy discussion. If we can find a journalist willing to drag themselves away from personalities we may even get some policy scrutiny.

Commenter

invamore

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:43PM

They'll release them in time for the election, as all Oppositions do.

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:52PM

Fanta, I think they should quit while they are ahead, if the few released policies are anything to go by! Very few people like the policies they have seen. The polls simply indicate a childish swipe at Labor, not an endorsement of the Libs/Nats.

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:04PM

If the only policy that the opposition states is that they will undo everything that the current lot have done over the last six years, then that surely will be more than enough reason to vote for them.It would certainly make this a better country.

Commenter

Max

Location

Stafford Heights

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:27PM

Not sure where your coming from Majjk, you seemed to forgotten the special commission and all the recommediations that where implemented form that. All the Libs have 'is we will turn the boats around policy' - which tends to contrict the Indonesian governments postion - but hey the Libs wont naturally responds to how they are going to get around that are they.

Commenter

Graham

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:40PM

Hahahah

JG, in reference to the Liberals: "Slogans rather than solutions to complex problems"

Labor's solution to the boat people crisis:

"There's some space over there, see if they'll fit."

A solution to a complex problem indeed.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:40PM

Is there ever a time that Peatling makes anything but a positive comment about Gillard? Is she on team Anne Summers?

Commenter

paul

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:39PM

Is it possible that Gillard will jump in the car, head off to Yarralumla and give Abbott an election on August 3 ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:39PM

Oh please.

Commenter

Catherine

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:15PM

Minister for Infrastructure and TransportMinister for Regional Development and Local Government, Leader of the House, Albanese (catch my breath) makes a lot of noise for a guy who appears to have no time to attend to all of his portfolios other than his leader of the house role, which he revels.

In a nutshell, the problem with Mr Albanese and his party, desperate defenders of a party leader always in crisis.

Commenter

timjackelton

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:38PM

Infrastructure spending has been at record levels since 2007. The previous infrastructure minister was asleep under a bridge.

Commenter

Doug

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:45PM

seriously Malik - labor is passing innovative nation building legislation even as we speak, the Libs have no policies and you think that the Labs have the problem? One eyed anyone?

And can we please stop saying the Labs can't stop boat people - no-one can stop boatpeople - they are caused by push factors that drive them away from their homeland, not by a minor policy position change of the Australian government

Commenter

ew75

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:37PM

I AM SO OVER THE MEDIA! REPORT ON SOMETHING REAL! How many times to we need to hear that Rudd is going to take over Gillard - stop creating something out of nothing!

Commenter

Lisa

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:36PM

Abbott seems to have played things pretty sensibly to this point.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:36PM

Does the LNP pay you to sandbag? Or do you campaign for free?

Commenter

seamus

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:48PM

totally agree Hacka, I think hes doing a great job. Glad I didn't vote for rudd or Julia or rudd or Julia , hang on, who did you labor lovers vote for

Commenter

Genghis

Location

Lounge

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:09PM

Yep Abbott plays things sensibly by not opening his mouth, because as soon as he opens it sensibility goes out the window.

Commenter

MIkey

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:41PM

Malik - Did you see the reort the other day saying there is more people displaced in the world every day than seek asylum in Australia every year - I hope that puts your "problem" into some perspective!

In other news on plans for the future the GOnski reforms have passed parliament but Napthiine & co still won't agree despite a Victorian school being closed this week becuase of general disrepair, asbestos & lead paint.

Commenter

Macca75

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:36PM

I wonder if the good peoople of Tamworth and Port Macquarie are going vote Labor at the next election? After all, their local members have been defacto members of the Labor party for some time now. Health problems, my cold foot!

Commenter

jrp

Location

Thailand

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:35PM

I am thinking that is a rhetorical question jrp, but in case it isnt, the people of Port Macquarie and Tamworth voted resoundingly for a NON Labor government last time and a fat lot of good it did us. So this time once the tars and feathers have been used up (if we can find Mr O or Mr W on election day) we will hand write NATIONAL Party on the forms we drop in the box in case our new local member decides to desert his principles too.

Commenter

DavidH9000

Location

Port Macquarie

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:00PM

Thanks, yes it was. It's a pity when the person elected disregards the wishes of the majority of the electorate and thinks that the people no longer matter. Never mind it won't be a hung parliament this time around (my opinion anyway). The independents 'day in the sun' is almost over.

Commenter

jrp

Location

Thailand

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:35PM

@Zen I never defended polls in 2010. They have always been statistically unsound and unreliable at best, and should not be listened to. I fear the polls dictate voting habits of the masses, rather than the other way around.

Commenter

Gabriel

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:35PM

Abbott the spoiled kid...didn't win the prize and hasn't stopped whinging! Show me the policy Tony, not slogans but fleshed out, costed policy...if you want to be seen as an alternative PM option.We all too soon forget Abbot knifed Turnbull...and became leader by just 1 vote...hardly inspiring...

Commenter

Gavroche

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:33PM

And yet has managed to do what no one in the Labor party can do - unite a party.

The answer is simple - call an election and then the policies have to come out for scrutiny. I don't understand why supporters of the government ask to see opposition costed policies when we aren't even in an election. No opposition ever does that. Issue the writs, start the campaign and then we can all make objective decisions.

Commenter

Smokin Mo

Location

Ryde

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:54PM

The Libs plan for asylum seekers is what exactly? Stopping the boats by sending them back? Sorry just a slogan with no substance especially when the indo government laughs at it. The RAN will not do it so is TA going to hop in a zodiac with his budgie smugglers and fix a line to their bow and tow them himself? Please your blinkered take on policies or their lack is showing, please provide some policies the Liberals have that aren't encompassed in a slogan filled brochure of nothingness.

Commenter

Rob68

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:33PM

This craving for Rudd to be the next PM sickens me to the core. He ought to be called for what he is, a failed experiment with the the people a failed policy maker and a total failure as a human being. He ought to be heckled on evey corner as long as this stupid idea that he would ever be fit to be the PM. You aren't and we don't want this dudd!

Commenter

Phill Power

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:31PM

You are in the minority.

Commenter

Opinion Only

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:40PM

Phill, I don't think it's a craving for Rudd as PM, but more a craving to stop Abbott being PM...or at least, a PM with unfettered power. Not even any Libs I know want Abbott as PM: they all rather have Turnbull!

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:52PM

Untrue: the ALP will be wiped out either way. True Rudd SPIN.

Commenter

a1liam

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:55PM

No he's not. I used to respect K Rudd not anymore.

Commenter

Dirk Dredd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:56PM

Passionfruit, you know a lib? Very funny!!!

Commenter

Already Reflected

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:20PM

Not surprised Anna Burke's mum is visiting the chamber - probably the last time she will be able to see her in that chair

Commenter

helenB

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:28PM

hi speaker's mum!!!

Commenter

jetissah

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:27PM

Gillard has not got the Vic government on side, unless they cough up another 7 billion! The budget is in a mess. What will Qld, WA, Tas and NT want more?

Commenter

Malcolm

Location

South East

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:27PM

That's because Victoria is broke and Napthine is trying to wring every last dollar he can get out of whoever he can.

Commenter

Kerry

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:52PM

Don't worry water is going up 25% thanks to Labor's desalination white elephant, trumpeting millions of tonnes of pollution into the sea and into the air.

Back to Friday night bath times and sharing bath water. Good old Labor did it again.

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:00PM

Albanese was excellent as usual. Passionate, funny and full of facts! What a shame I've moved out of his seat to that of the hapless Hockey.

Commenter

Passionfruit

Location

Alas, no longer Albo's seat

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:23PM

Passionfruit,

If you had watched QT over the last 3 years you would have heard the exact same words from the great Albo. He has not added to anything whatsoever.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:32PM

suggest you move on then...

Commenter

the drover's dog

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:38PM

Albo is a one trick pony. Shrills and stamps his feet whenever he's asked to put some muscle on the floor. As Transport Minister I still can't work out what 's done. He's a convenient politician, supports something when it is of no cost or matter to hm but when the heat is on he turns to water, ie: Sydney 2nd Airport.

He knows how to navigate his way around a dysfunctional party though. He is from the NSW ALP and is married to Carmel Tebbutt, former Deputy Premier of NSW during the Rees and Keneally years....

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:41PM

beasleyst, I have been watching. That's why I used the words "as usual". As for the rubbish spouted by Abbott and Pyne...only facts I hear are those related to the leadership drama. The funny thing is that the Labor shemozzle still produces better policies for our country than the seemingly disciplined other side.

Rudd only been about de-stabilizing the present govt. He has no interest in governing Australia just destroying the labor party. He purely wants revenge for being dumped.

The current media, all journalists if you can call them that owe the Australian people an apology for not doing their job. Ignoring the leadership speculation and getting on analyzing the govt.and opposition policies.

We have a govt. that allowed Australia to avoid the GFC unlikely other countries.

We have lower inflation, close to full employment. Yet we are still whinging.

The mining industry was not seen for what they were greedy.

So glad the old media is dieing we may get media commentary that questions Abbott's motives for being so negative.

I do agree though Gillard has been lackluster in attacking the opposition and getting her point across. But could be sexism, we the public are not use to a female PM.

Commenter

AnthLC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:23PM

Nice bit of cherrypicking there, AnthLC. Do you also support Labor's and the Green's policies for open borders? Google "Dandenong asylum seeker crisis" and see how well those policies are working out there.

True humanitarians we have in Parliament.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:29PM

Google results.

No results found for "Dandenong asylum seeker crisis"

Commenter

AndrewE

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:41PM

Alabanese invoking the signs behind TA again. Lol, find something new! They're so bankrupt of ideas, they need to keep trotting out the same old criticisms that have nothing to do with anything.

If the Libs wanted to join them in the gutter, they would merely invoke the hundreds of deaths at sea. But oh no, some idiotic signs behind the leader of the opposition present a far greater crisis of conscience to the ALP.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:22PM

Ha ha, good one Malik. As if the Opposition haven't spent the last 3 years in the gutter. Brilliant; one of your best.

Commenter

jofek

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:33PM

Malik, in those few lines you have summed up what is wrong with every Liberal voter. You trot out about the signs behind TA and say Labor keeps complaining about it, it's the first time in months that is has been mentioned.Every day we here from TA, JH, CP, JB and every other Liberal/National about the Carbon Tax. Get over it, move on, please, please try and come up with something new. Like a policy for........., well anything really, we still haven't heard any.

Commenter

Mathew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:35PM

Matthew - can you count - the first time? Maybe the first time for Labor ears. Has not JG talked about it in her famous 'blue tie' speech and was it not incessantly repeated by Labor? Mate, if you want to attack people get your facts right ....

Commenter

ET

Location

Lakesland

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:46PM

Malik, she mentions it is speeches to show the character of TA, not that she really needs to, his character should be well known.What is TAs health care policy?What is his education policy?What is his infrastructure policy?What is his IR policy?What is his jobs policy?What is his asylum seeker policy?

Commenter

Mathew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:53PM

Matthew

"What is his asylum seeker policy?"

That sums up everything for you, you have not listen to anything. For the last three years he has said he will turn back to the boats. Under Gillard the have been 33000 asylum seekers and she said she would stop them.

Commenter

terry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:29PM

I think jofek should stand for PM and fight out the election. He will then finally realise how irrelevant he is also.

Commenter

housemartin

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:29PM

"For the past three years, we've put up with the longest dummy spit in Australian political history."

Make that two of the longest dummy spits, Anthony.

Commenter

Cameron

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:22PM

Albo, the Australian people are about to endure about a decade at least of ALP navel gazing.

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:43PM

How, Mr Abbot, does one have meetings behind closed doors while standing in corridors?

Commenter

Rudd is a troublemaker

Location

Ringwood

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:19PM

Seems a certain group of people are the only ones with no say in who runs the country. The electorate.

Commenter

Julian

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:18PM

The PM is so very pleased she has nearly achieved her ambition of a lifetime - to compromise the system. No wonder she appears calm.and the system has paid and will pay her handsomely to do it.I would be as strong under those circumstances. Who would not.

Mr windsor has said Mr Abbott offered him everything but his arse to join with him 3 years ago. Often pondered what he was offered by the Lab lot.I will never forget he sold his farm to a coal mine, or the lame excuse he used.Or that he was photographed in spain with Mr Oakshott standing next to solar panels. most educational

Commenter

S K Ared

Location

ACT

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:17PM

The nerve of these blokes, being photographed standing by SOLAR PANELS!!! Quick, someone alert ASIO they might be commies!!!!!!!

Commenter

Sydney Sam

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:42PM

ROFL

Albanese talking about Labor's plan for the future, while accusing the Libs of having none.

Maybe Labor's plan for the future could start with addressing the boat people problem. But then again, isn't that a plan for the past? The past three years? The three years they've had an opportunity to do something? They've done nothing and they have the hide to accuse the Libs of having no policies.

Brb, I'm laughing my head off.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:14PM

Hey Malik it might get even better - Swannie might stand up and start talking about future surpluses he'll deliver.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:19PM

It is Labor's policies that are preventing us from having a good future. They can't fix our borders, and are mortgaging our future by spending like drunken sailors. When the libs are in and start paying off the debt we can be optimistic about our future's

Commenter

Let's Make Sandwiches

Location

Wollongong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

Albo has had the same speech every single time he has stood up in this parliament. Nothing new.

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:22PM

Scenario 1 Rudd ousts Julia, loses the election, is held responsible and replaced by Shorten.Scenario 2 Rudd ousts Julia, wins the unwinnable election, is considered a liability in government as he isnt popular in the Caucus and is replaced by Shorten.Scnario 3 Rudd fails to oust Gillard, Labor lose in a catastophic landslide, Julia resigns and is replaced by Shorten.

Whichever scenario, Shorten ends up leading the party and whenever he is asked a question will answer Ithat Gillard has answered that and I agree with her answer even though I havent heard her answer! What a future Labor has.

Commenter

DavidH9000

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:13PM

I believe Mr Shorten is carrying significant reputational risk in relation to his character that may well emerge to put an end to his ambitions.

Commenter

Marcel

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:19PM

So if they can't find a single MP who has seen the petition, basically this story is yet another beat-up by the media then? So sick of the manufactured scandals on a daily basis.

Commenter

Herself

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:13PM

The election is on September 14, Tony.

Shut up.

Commenter

Pete

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:12PM

Don't be so sure Pete, it could be much earlier than that... just depends how woefully the ALP handle this.

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:24PM

Abbot says he is tired of Labor Party deals being done in corridors behind closed doors. Weird architecture in Parliament House?

Commenter

The Architect

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:12PM

Anthony Albanese once again playing the man, not the policies.

How's that tactic working for you Labor?

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:11PM

Hard to argue against policies which are not existant. Will the opposition release its raft of policies before August 3rd? I doubt it unless its in the form of a slogan filled, pander to the ill informed brochure.

Commenter

Rob68

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:28PM

Rob, like labor you need to stop navel gazing and see the facts. The coalition have lots of policies. Itssad that labor are too stupid or too caught up in themselves to look for them.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:34PM

In the absence of any policy from the opposition and the refusal to publish the many successful policies of the Labor party by the press the only thing Labor can fight is the Liberals behaviour in the past and on that they have a lot of ammunition.

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:35PM

Wow talk about cognitive dissonance. You do realise that the Coalition have been playing 'the woman' for the whole of this government's term. Another ijit.

Commenter

Code Red

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:38PM

Can you reference a few of those policies then Denny? Or are you just rambling rubbish. Name me three coalition policies. Their Paid Parental Leave Scheme? What a poorly constructed solution to a problem or if we are to talk straight talk a blatant bribe

Commenter

Kilkenny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:04PM

You mean like this 50 page document outlining the Liberal policies that is freely available on their website, Kilkenny?http://tinyurl.com/br6366c

Keep ranting about how bad the Liberals are though. One or two people might listen if you're lucky...that is if they didn't witness the Labor debacles of 2010 or 2013.

Commenter

Jiminy

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 9:54PM

SO - if K Rudd is successful but cannot secure the support of the cross-benchers and Tony Abbot becomes PM - how long until a new election has to be held? At that point surely everyone will realise how much they detest Tony and either Kev will win a landslide victory or the Libs will dump Tony in favour of Malcolm and everyone will be (relatively) happy?

Commenter

Shine

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:10PM

Chris Pyne, why don't you tell us who is laughing at this government? On what basis is this government a shambles? All we have from the Liberals, as usual, is random assertions accepted as fact because they can and they can get away with it.

Commenter

ab

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:10PM

There was a reason why Rudd was toppled in the first place. This was not only the slide in the polls. Senior ministers in the government judged that this slide was due to Rudd being dysfunctional, which was most evident to his colleagues, and that he is not mentally fit for the position. This is why they took the risky course of removing him. Now some of them are panicked into reinstalling someone who has been judged drastically unsound by his colleagues because of his alleged popularity. Rudd's narcissism is out of control. He is the chief cause of this disaster and chaos, not just the incompetence of the remaining Labor ministry.

Commenter

Marcel

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:10PM

Couldn't agree more! Rudd has been "stirring" the pot since he was booted out. A leopard doesn't change its spots - I hope Rudd loses the vote and resigns. I am sick of his undermining.

Commenter

John

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:48PM

No one has power. The politicians who toe the line and follow the party have no power - only a job. They do as they are told. No one can do anything without public scrutiny. There's no power at stake here - it's a farce.

Commenter

Gabriel

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:09PM

Is Christopher Pyne offering jogging advice - how to exit the chamber with the speed of a gazelle ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:08PM

Under our constitution, what we have now is a perfectly legitimate minority govt. What Abbott is saying now is purely false and an attempt to persuade Australians that it's wrong and this is disgraceful, just because very few Austalians even know how our parliamentary system works. Shame LNP

Commenter

JT

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:07PM

You cannot be serious.

Commenter

Dave

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:16PM

Dave, you prove JT's point.

Commenter

jofek

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:36PM

Is there a petition? Isn't there? C'mon Third Estate we rely on you for some consistent information. Surely this isn't another false start? Julia for all her strengths should look more worried than she does if the information you feed us is correct. I'm starting to think that perhaps Shorten has set Rudd up.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:06PM

Putting money into peoples bank accounts is just impractical! How can the government assure that the $410 or $205 goes towards schooling items? won't it be better if they distribute it to the schools? I'm a high school student and i can see that it won't be beneficial... What a waste of taxpayers money.

Commenter

Andrew.24

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:05PM

I see - so I guess you oppose tax reductions because we cant be assured people will spend them wisely (or at least , how you would like them spent)

Commenter

Jimmy G

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:16PM

"INDEPENDENT MP Bob Katter has dramatically thrown his support behind Kevin Rudd to take the Labor leadership."

The Australian

Commenter

Rob

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:03PM

see Stephanie's entry at 11.32am

Commenter

The Mod

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:08PM

Can we get rid of the polls please? Julia Gillard is an okay PM and we shouldn't be trying so hard to oust her because of "a few polls". They are not statistically sound and should not be taken as gospel.

A change in leader won't necessarily change party policy. Politics should be about ideology, not personalities, and to bring that back we need to ditch polls.

Commenter

Gabriel

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:01PM

Agreed Gabriel!!

Commenter

Thomas44

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

Opinion polls were a good enough justification for Gillard to backstab Rudd and become Australia's first female PM,to loud cheers from feminists,who were happy to overlook treachery. Now the polls reflect badly on Gillard we should get rid of them?I don't think so!Payback is such a b....h!

Commenter

Zen

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

Give me a break! None of US tried to oust Rudd after poor polling - his own party did that without consultation and behind closed doors. And WE are not doing it now. The Labor party lives, breathes & exists for polls as it's often the only way to settle their warring factions - ergo, here we all are!

Commenter

the drover's dog

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 11:23PM

Agree with the Age editorial. Stand aside for the good of the country.This is not some schoolyard fight I don't care how tough she is, the Australian people do not want her nor should we give abbot an easy ride into office in both houses.

Commenter

freddy

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:59PM

Thank you Tony - better late than never for your motion of No Confidence. But will it succeed now??

Commenter

Rosie

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:58PM

Gillard and Combet ripping the arguments of the Coalition to shreds on the floor of the house. President Obama's Climate Action Plan has hit the Coalition hard.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:57PM

But there will be no USA carbon tax so you can compare the two systems.

Commenter

terry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:09PM

Dont be silly - the opposition have no arguments. Just a silly chant about axing the carbon tax.....to replace it with a bloated expensive bureaucracy doling out money to companies on carbon mitigation projects that are totally unproven

Commenter

Jimmy G

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:09PM

what obamas plan is abbott light no sign of a useless carbon tax. read it mate

Commenter

85days to happiness

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:14PM

Yes in typical form dont let the truth be exposed, dont mention whyalla getting $650 million to keep it afloat, nor the 2 $billion in payments to polluters, nor the family assistance that allows people to keep warm at night, all that from labors "policy disaster fund" PDF and yours and my pockets. It Must feel good to lie and get away with it and call it determination, labor lemmings.

Commenter

they omit the 2 billion given away

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:27PM

The statement firmly puts climate change sceptics in a gelogical layer with the dinosaurs.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:32PM

It appears Oakshot and Windsor were aware that Gillard was not going to last the week and so have left the Titanic early.

Commenter

captain goodvibes

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:55PM

Gonski, historic education reform, ripping 2.8 billion from universities for school principals to spend at their discretion.

Congratulation to PM Gillard on another breakthrough reform of education Gonski next. Fantastic performance, well done

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:54PM

Where is the money coming from?Already Uni's are the losers, who else will be losers?

Commenter

terry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:12PM

You obviously know nothing about Gonski is....a) it is a funding reform, not an education reform in any way at all, in fact b) the principals can spend all the extra money anyway they choose.... new gardens, new carpet. there is no stipulation on how it is spent. Unmitigated pork barrel to the teachers federation and a complete waste of $5 biilion of taxpayers money.....

Commenter

Wayne D.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:31PM

Hear hear!!

Commenter

Thomas44

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:34PM

Can you explain who will hold schools accountable? Garrett couldn't. It wust be another rort mishandled by labor. Gold medal for stupidity.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:36PM

Except we have no money to fund it!

Free Ferraris for everyone!

Commenter

Frequent Flyer

Location

VIC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:36PM

...and singular congratulation to PM on ripping funding from the tertiary sector to help fund it. It's all smoke & mirrors

Commenter

the drover's dog

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:37PM

What breakthrough is that - the States will decide not her - more spin on the unfunded, unpayable drip like the NDI scam, Carbon Tax scam , NBN scam.........

Commenter

gc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:39PM

Got any concerns about Gonski not being fully funded? Or any concerns that not all the States have signed up?

Or any concerns about how the States will be kept accountable for reaching the educational objectives?Garrett couldn't answer that question on 7.30 last night.

Commenter

yys

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:45PM

Hmm, have to get the Sates on board first...after all Education is a state matter.

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:53PM

7 years of Labor and all we have is the Gonski legislation. Which if you read it staes it is not ENFORCABLE ! So just what has been achieved today ?

Commenter

abc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:58PM

Only works if the states sign up....

Commenter

Cat

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:59PM

More like Custer's last stand

Commenter

Les

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:25PM

If ever there was a herd animal it's not the rat, it's the LNP posters who use the same tired old slogan time and time again and never seem to tire of it. It's about as hackneyed as the LNP's policies.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:54PM

Julia Gillard has been the subject of a long term sexist, nasty and abusive campaign which is now on the brink of success. I feel sorry for Julia's fate. But the ALP must now do something to limit the approaching electorate onslaught. Rudd does have street cred - its been an eye-opener on the news in recent weeks and he could change the electoral dynamics completely. The last thing the Opposition want is for Rudd to become PM. The more they will run a campaign of abuse against him, the more those swinging voters will embrace him. Lets face it -. its not about policies. It should, but it isn;t.

Commenter

Charlie Zero

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:53PM

Kevin Rudd should just tie a very big bow around his head as he is already the gift that keeps on giving for Tony Abbott

Commenter

dlg

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:52PM

Oh yes, and Gillard is just giving the Libs hell, right?

*shakes head*

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:07PM

Obviously you havnt seen the comparison polls between Gillard and Rudd. Rudd clearly would fare better against Abbott, so it would in his interest to keep her there.

Commenter

hotpie

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:09PM

Labour is not going to fare well against Tony Abbott not matter who is in charge but this stupid infightling is making it worse and sealing the deal.

Commenter

dlg

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

Watch out... Kevin is wearing a blue tie!

Commenter

Bob

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:51PM

Yay schoolkids bonus!

"Mum can we get my new iPod now?"

"Sure we can hon. We'll get an extended warranty as well."

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:50PM

Keep it up, worth a few thousand votes to the ALP there. I would never suggest how a high net worth individual should spend their money, never.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:01PM

Malik you have named yourself well-except for the magic part!!!

Commenter

Mr Mauricio

Location

Palm Beach

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:12PM

Ahahahaha, JG has just said where people are from Sri Lanka, they are promptly returned. What happens when a Sri Lankan says they're from Afghanistan? How would we know? They have no papers.

Aren't we a gullible lot.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:49PM

MalikSome people actually have enough brains to tell the difference. Unlike the lemmings who chant "turn back the boats"

Commenter

Steve

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:06PM

Brilliant comment, Mr Sheep.

Because it would be absolutely impossible for anyone in the immigration department to work out whether a person speaks Tamil or Pashto, wouldn't it?

Well done.

Commenter

Reg

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:17PM

@Reg

"Brilliant comment, Mr Sheep.

Because it would be absolutely impossible for anyone in the immigration department to work out whether a person speaks Tamil or Pashto, wouldn't it?

Well done."

You mean the same way everyone in Australia speaks only English? Have you heard of Urdu? Spoken in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and, in some cases, Sri Lanka.

Well done Reg, well done.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:04PM

Please NOT Rudd.Rudd is NOT the solution to Labors woes. He's a contributor to them.

Commenter

ODCologne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:48PM

Looks above at the real "chattering classes" and gets back to work.

Commenter

AndreP

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:46PM

Been away for a while - it it true that Malcolm is petitioning to replace Tony as Coalition leader? Something about 'I'm the only one with ideas on how to take the country forward?'

Commenter

rayo

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:45PM

They don't need to yet, Abbott is cruising in. If Rudd takes over though, Malcolm maybe an option.

Commenter

GoRudd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:55PM

Apart from three word phrases Abbott has no idea how to run a Country but to ruin an economy he had the best advice from his predecessor

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:13PM

It's a shame politics will be all so boring agai in 80 days time.

Commenter

Chris

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:45PM

Boring ? Lets see how the dinosaurs handle social media when in Government, millions will remember what a gutless act abbott & the right wing media have been and will be heard continually...

Commenter

Big business

Location

illawarra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:12PM

Gillard is awesome - all the pressure on her in the world, and yet she just gets on with it. She is a very cool customer. If she is knocked over, there will be no tears like Rudd, no leaks during his campaign, etc. What a shame her incredible legislative record in a minority government doesn't interest the media or the voters.

Commenter

Seamus

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:44PM

Agree with you Seamus!

Commenter

Melinda-Lee

Location

Auckland New Zealand

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:02PM

Yes.

PM Gillard is an "amazing" Prime Minister.

It's such a pity that the majority of the electorate, a substantial number of her own colleagues, and the Home Spinners and Knitters Guild can't see it.

Commenter

Louis Cypher

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:10PM

Seamus,

It's hard to feel pressure from the outside world, when you have no touch with the outside world!

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:19PM

Spot-on Seamus! The only problem is she cant inspire people to recognise what she has actually achieved.

Commenter

Battered

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

My goodness, is this what we pay our politicians exhorbitant sums of money to do ? Photo at 2.35 pm, Rudd passing a note to Fitzgibbon, both giggling like little schoolkids.. Grow up people , you are representing your electorates, behave like you do give a damn about your job. And one of them wants to be PM, my goodness we are a nation of losers..

Commenter

Anti Ruddster

Location

Further down under the same rock

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:42PM

Labor would have been much better off if they had done nothing.Who cares.....an election can't come soon enough. Why on earth are we paying these people with my taxes

Commenter

RAM

Location

Qld

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:41PM

Hang in there Julia - hope that you will still be PM. Good luck to you!

Commenter

Melinda-Lee

Location

New Zealand

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:41PM

God Melinda, you're a Kiwi!This obsequious pro Gillard stance of yours is intriguing. Is it more to do with a shared interest in wool?

Commenter

Louis Cypher

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:09PM

Oh isn't it good too see Labor and Liberal Supporters basing their comments on emotions rather then facts?

Commenter

keith

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:40PM

I think Julia has done a great job. Such a strong leader. However...let Abbott get his time in the next few weeks...lets see his real colours.....We have all been duped by the Abbott negativity broken record.

Commenter

neilbear

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:39PM

Fantastic job *golf clap / seal clap*

Commenter

Kaboda

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:51PM

His real colour is definitely blue. Its also my favourite.

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:52PM

Watching Gillard in the parliament today she doesn't look as if she has a care in the world and she is performing well. It's hard to understand how such an intelligent woman has managed to get into the position she has, but I guess we are all our own worst enemies. She has to go but it is a pity as there is much to admire in her.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:37PM

Its called bloody mindedness.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:58PM

It is called leadership.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:06PM

Any one of the Labor trolls on here that actually believe that LABOR , GIllard, Swan or RUDD can economically run this country are kidding themselves ! Swan says Small business is Booming in Question time ? does he not know that 2000 close a month, bumbbling baffoons !

Commenter

DW

Location

BRONTE

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:35PM

Perhaps "labor trolls "depend on facts not unsupportable rumours, so far this issue has been unsupported by any factual data, a petition that doesn't exist a economy that is doing bad despite the facts Lets look at record growth, AAA credit rating Low unemployment, low inflation record infrastructure development and then say we have an incompetent Government to say otherwise is plain stupidity, but as they say never underestimate a crowds stupidity.

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:11PM

Mr Rudd should be prepared for a second backstabbing if he runs and wins the next election. Knowing how cunning Ms Gillard is, the only reason she would give up her seat is tactical.

Commenter

glorenz

Location

newtown

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:35PM

LOL - If she gives up her 'seat' she will no longer be an MP, thus making it impossible to 'knife' Rudd. As for Rudd he has spent three years doing little but sabotaging Gillard.

Commenter

Seamus

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:48PM

From SA June 26, 2013, 2:15PM saying yes to Rudd as Laboe Leader is saying yes to the Liberals in Government and Abbott as PM, if he doesn't stabbed in the back by Turnbull.

And EA 26/6 stopping using The Media as your only source of information.

PS To the person who called me mate, I cannot be your mate as you haven't pay me to be your mate and I don't be mates with a Liberal Member.

Commenter

keith

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:34PM

Keith, a mate would offer you a dictionary...

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:56PM

The hilarious thing about this is that Rudd actually believes that he won't be knifed in the back AGAIN even if he does win the next leadership spill. Ruddy, give it a rest and let these buffoons go down. Then, if you really care about, and want to lead this country, the door will be wide open, and your mandate unquestioned.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:34PM

Not sure that you can say a Rudd return is about revenge - seems to me it is more about the fact that the polls are saying that he is their only chance and without him they are gone. On that basis how could he not run if a majority of caucus want him. To refuse to run in those circumstances would be churlish.

Commenter

helenB

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:33PM

I agree Helen. There might be an element of revenge, but this is only hope of making it a contest and avoiding annihilation. It's pathetic Gillard was too stubborn to step down, even more so that they knifed Rudd in the first instance as we would never have had a hung Parliament and Abbott wouldn't be the opposition leader I'll bet.

Commenter

daffy

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:41PM

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Commenter

middleway

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:32PM

Sometimes, but what kills you, kills you.

Commenter

Sammy B

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:38PM

What doesn't kill us now might well kill off our kids and grandkids though. Even if Abbott does do a better job with the economy (remains to be seen) he doesn't have the vision or strength to tackle big polluters and climate change. No-one will remember how big the deficit was under Swan vs Hockey when they can't breath outside.

Commenter

dismayed

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:31PM

No the polls show that women have not liked her standing up for them (how is that for irony) so that won't happen. I think that Rudd gets the women's vote as he is quite cheerful, is man (yes the electorate still hasn't got used having a woman in charge) and has a very successful wife so he ticks most of the boxes. If you think this sexist then just look at the way the electorate has belittled and attacked her personally o the last few years and you can see we are still in a last century world in terms of the electorate. Yes there have been women premiuers but without exception they have always been put into a bad situation that a man didn't want deal with.

Commenter

Lance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:32PM

No Lance. The truth she is a backstabber and a liar (ok that's common to much of out parliamemt). BUT she has talked down and insulted thinking women with her bizarre rantings on abortion and was particularly offensive in playing the gender card when it suited her. That does not constitute statesmanship or an inspiring leader (male or female).

Commenter

Pat Rat

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

No Lance. The truth she is a backstabber and a liar (ok that's common to much of out parliamemt). BUT she has talked down and insulted thinking women with her bizarre rantings on abortion and was particularly offensive in playing the gender card when it suited her. That does not constitute statesmanship or an inspiring leader (male or female).

Commenter

Pat Rat

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:21PM

The Labor Party used to be better than this under Rudd and Hawke. Thanks Jules for reminding us why tonight is your last supper.

Time for another misogyny or men-in-blue-ties speech ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:32PM

Life under Hawke and Keating was better but not under these two clowns.Can you imagine if this was happening if Keating was still around, there would be a large number of very sore bottoms and other places.The damage to the ALP that is now being caused would never have got out of caucus and there would be very in the media if hawke and Keating were around.There has always been a bit of hatred within the ALP but never has it been so bad and so open as it is now.The time has come for the Adults in the ALP if there are any left to knock heads together an have an election now as the ALP will continue to slide farther into the abyss with every passing minute.

Commenter

terry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:54PM

Lets be altogether clear about this. Budget Paper 1 from 2013-14 states, at page 10-10, the following recent Federal budget expenditures as a proportion of GDP:

Howard >> highest 26.2 (1996/7, last remnants of the Keating flyover); lowest 23.5 (1999/00); last 5 = 24.5 (5 years through 2006/7). Last year in office (2006/7) = 23.9, or if you prefer (2007/8) = 23.8.

Either way, unlike over at #Auspol twitterati (where they are suggesting that the swan expenditures are 23.8% of GDP, no more), the Swan legacy is actually 1.3 points of GDP higher on average than the corresponding legacy of Costello. That's the near $20 billion per annum costing difference between these 2 peculiarly different styles of government.

Commenter

Grant

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:31PM

OMG Grant. Next you'll be saying that maybe Uncle Wayne has no idea what he is doing. Who would have thought?Oh well at least he'll have us back in surplus by (insert fictional future year here)

Commenter

Slick

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:44PM

The 'twitterati' are confused between the tax to GDP ratio and spending to GDP ratio. Swan's tax take is relatively low, but this is because he's financing much of his spending by borrowing.

Mind you, this is nickel-and-diming as far as the spending abilities of this idiotic Labour Govt. are concerned !!

Commenter

Richard

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:03PM

The net combined surpluses under the Coalition, even allowing for the Future Fund, tax cuts, etc, exceeded $96 billion. In half the corresponding time since then, Labor has lost (created a combined deficit) of $201 billion without even counting for the NBN, etc. Back in 1996, Howard had to make do on $141 billion in revenue. Today, however, Swan and Gillard cannot make do on $400 billion. They're still in deficit. Now that's a near tripling in revenue, yet not that many people will have experienced a tripling in their wages or salaries, since then. Purely and simply, this is about economic mis-management, an inability to spend within one's means, to scrutinise and assess future spending decisions before they are incurred, to efficiently manage the economy. To this day, there still has been no cost benefit analysis or anything in the slightest, regarding the NBN, or any number of "off the cuff" projects aed over time by the Government.

Commenter

Grant

Location

Mitcham

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:20PM

Grant,As always, biassed statistics, ...now look at the revenue side, Government revenues under HC 25.4% of GDP, while under RGS 23% .... so on the face of it that Howard / Costello ripped more into the government coffers than labor . But then, neither the revenues nor expenditures mean much unless looked in the context of the whole economy. And a better measure of that is total debt (government, business and private) which for the first time in twenty years is not going up.

Commenter

colin

Location

melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:33PM

All the Libs have to do is watch Labour self-destruct; give them 10 years and they may be back, maybe.......

Commenter

Magnus

Location

Abbotsford

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:30PM

I don't know what polls those who say women will desert Rudd because they love Gillard are reading. I have a wide circle and I don't know one woman who thinks Gillard has done other than a huge disservice to women in powerful roles by her incompetence and single minded self serving ruthlessness in seizing power by underhanded means and refusing to relinquish it in spite of advice to the contrary

Commenter

helenB

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:30PM

How embarrassing for the media, should this whole effort to bring Rudd back fail. The media were a big factor in getting Rudd in when they wanted Howard gone. Then were caught out when Gillard took over. They tried to get her out, but she somehow won the majority of votes at the last election (& formed government with the indies). The media are trying to influence everything again, but Labor seems to be riding out the waves of propaganda. Latika Bourke has reported that she has not found one Labor politician that has seen the suggested petition. Someone has to have the story wrong? When are the media going to move on & actually give a fair & balanced review on everything? Who is influencing the direction of the media? Gina, Rupert?

Commenter

Rob

Location

Lidcombe

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:29PM

I hear Altona's CWA are looking for a strong, feisty knitter to help with their next fundraiser.

Commenter

enough is enough

Location

Labor party/Greens La La Land

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:27PM

Comic genius... stop it my sides are aching. What will you whinge about in this forum for the next 3 years if TA gets in? Or will you hang up your keyboard?

Commenter

Enough of enough is enough

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:57PM

I trust Rudd ahead of Julia and Abbott, alas they are all puppets of their party. If Rudd is in, then Rudd over Abbott. Malcolm contests as Abbotts polls drop, Malcolm in for PM.

Commenter

GoRudd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:26PM

@GoRudd

You're backing the wrong horse. Rudd is the axe in the "Break in case of electoral emergency" box. As soon as he fulfills his usefulness he'll be on the backbenches faster than you can say "3,000 boat people a week?".

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:40PM

A question about the price on carbon? Is T.A. serious? Doesn't he have anything of substance to add to this last week of parliament? Maybe he could announce a policy or two instead of harping on about a 'tax' that never was and didn't cause the mayhem he promised.

Commenter

Rob68

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:26PM

It called "death by a thousand cuts" - old Chinese proverb

Commenter

gc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:34PM

It is question time, you know.

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:44PM

PLEASE - leave her there - I want to do it!!

Commenter

Rose of Castile

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:25PM

Apparently the information line at the Politician's Superannuation Trustees office has crashed due to unprecedented demand.

Commenter

enough is enough

Location

Labor party/Greens La La Land

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:24PM

I wonder why?

Commenter

MES

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:34PM

As a member of the labor party, I seriously question Kevin Rudds judgment and his ability to govern after the way he has conducted himself for some time. It unfortunately has been all about Kevin, rather than the Party. And because his judgement appears to be seriously flawed - I will not vote for him if he is reinstated - and I will not campaign for him.

Commenter

Victorian voter.

Location

Flemington, Victoria.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:23PM

And I am a Labor member who will not vote or campaign for Gillard

And this is the quandary we are in. At least Rudd was popularly elected,

Commenter

Mark

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:34PM

Kevin Rudd may be exploiting the problem, but he didn't create it. There would have been no challenges had Julia and her team not made such a hash of everything. Caucus has had opportunities to admit their error and reinstate Rudd. They have, inexplicably, refused to do this.

Commenter

AdamC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:36PM

And you think Julia is not all about Julia? She can't even refer to herself without saying "I am the Prime Minister of Australia" or "As Prime Minister of Australia I have decided..". Notice the singular use of the word "I" instead of the use of "As the government of Australia WE have decided". As my teenage daughter would say: Shut up already!!

Commenter

Art

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:41PM

As was PM Gillard who won the last election abet with a small majority but LNP supporters have no familiarity with factual arguments

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:45PM

Gillard has guts, she is what she is and play a straight bat - she's has whimps and weazels for collegues.

If Rudd makes make another run at the leadership then I could never trust anything he says again.

This smacks of someone trying to exact revenge and not actually caring what governing the country...

Commenter

Dvaid

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:22PM

Why would anyone want to be the captain of the Titanic in its final hour is beyond belief. RUDD don't do it. Let it sink to the bottom with Gillard n co in it please.

Commenter

EA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:22PM

Is there a strategy to burn both Gillard (by losing leadership to Rudd) and Rudd (by losing election as leader) to introduce a new leader?

Commenter

johf

Location

sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:22PM

Yep, Bill Shorten.

Commenter

Scooter

Location

Kam Berra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:25PM

Why wouldn't Bill want to let these two just cut and each other and just pick up the pieces after the election ?

Commenter

Bill & Ben

Location

Weeds

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:33PM

Will be a shame if Gillard goes. Economy the envy of the world, AAA credit rating, action on climate change, long overdue education reforms. All achieved in the context of a hung Parliament. Sure she's made mistakes but she's light-years from being our "worst PM". Can't see any woman putting their hand up for this job for a while.

Commenter

Richo

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:20PM

Yep, real shame; five $20-40b budget deficits and $250 billion in debt racked up in six years. Even my grandchildren will remember her, because they'll still be paying for her incompetency

Commenter

Slick

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:31PM

@ Slick, it is more probable that your grandchildren will pay for your own financial management than that of the government's.

Commenter

Barnacle

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:41PM

Agree totally!

Commenter

Melinda-Lee

Location

New Zealand

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:42PM

Richo, working in the markets here in HK the Australian Economy actually ain't all that crash hot. It's heading for a major correction next year and recession looms, maybe that's why the ALP doesn't really give a tikers cuss about retaining Government.....

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:51PM

@Fanta Pants, correct. Labor doesn't want any economic negativity 'on their watch' so that when they get into opposition and the Australian economy goes into downturn (which it is) they can blame it on the Coalition because it happened 'on their watch'. No talk of the coming recession or the Chinese credit crunch which will wipe out many mum and dad investors I mean property barons, nope - leave that for the Coalition to deal with

Commenter

panda

Location

perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:59PM

ABSOLUTELY NOT!...You cannot simply put a new leader into the election to simply win an eletion and keep your job. That is not how things are meant to be done. You cannot have Rudd win the lection and simply then remove him a short time later and replace him again so that a bunch of fatcats can keep their job. The Usurper Gillard has failed miserably. Im no Tony lover, i think he sucks, but Democracy is under attack at the moment and this is where the safeguard of the GG should step up and state that if Rudd becomes leader, we go to an immediate election and Rudd is disqualified from running.

Australians, Protect your DEMOCRACY now.

Commenter

Steve

Location

SYdney somewhere

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:20PM

don't quite understand the emotion of this post....there's an election coming regardless so the people will have their say.....democracy is not under attack....in fact quite the opposite - it's the polls based on what the people think that have driven this leadership crisis

I see Ruddy has his bluest tie on! This is the best day..(since March).

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:18PM

It's certainly exciting. Spare a thought for some though like WW, who's taking it all pretty hard.

Even sarajane's cheering on the challengers, how times change.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:25PM

He's worn a blue tie in every photo I've seen since Gillard amde that speech. Makes you wonder about the kind of person he actaully is?

Commenter

Craig

Location

Collingwood

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:10PM

I bet QE11 is waiting for a phone call seeking advice. This is the untold secret story that only the chosen few will know. The race to meet the GG will be like the Formula One race has come to Canberra. Car 01 - Gillard; Car 07 - Rudd; Car 99 - Abbott; Minivan 89 (with backpacker crude language) - independents/Greens/Katter blowing smoke at the rear of the grid.

Commenter

enough is enough

Location

Labor party/Greens La La Land

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:17PM

I used to live in Victoria when Labor was in opposition and seemed determined to stay there. The behaviour of member there is largely reminiscent (not identical) of what is happening now!I also feel compelled to comment on some of the earlier posts here too. 1)This is exactly the Parliament Australians voted for.2)When both party leaders were negotiating after the election they both were prepared to go ahead with a carbon tax.3)When you hold the balance of power like the independents do they are able to gain significant benefits for their electorate - it was the same in Queensland when Liz Cunningham in Gladstone did.4)Unless people are incredibly mobile we as voters do not elect the Prime Minister or the Treasurer or any of the Ministers. We don't even get to elect the Leader of the Opposition or any of the Shadow Ministers!!!

Commenter

Parsimony

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:17PM

All perfectly correct, but in the current climate you are blowing against a hurricane. You may as well be arguing that policy should be more important than politics - nice thoughts, but not going to happen. Those that matter in Australia smell blood and won't be satisfied until they have it. Rational thoughts have nothing to do with it.

Commenter

Bob

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:32PM

I will vote for Kevin but I will not vote for Julia. Julia Gillard wanting a show of hands instead of a secret ballot is intimidation and an attack on democracy. I think it is really clear now that she & the unions had planned to stab Kevin in the back all along. They used him to win the election and then kicked him out. Good luck Kevin hope you lead the ALP to the elections in Sept.

Commenter

From SA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:15PM

This is what I heard as well...show of hands in a leadership ballot?. Beggars belief..Why..well, we all know why don't we.

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:31PM

- Shortens switch to the blue tie club was revealed exclusively on the Pulse Yesterday. - It is on like Donkey kong, Julia is already gone like last weeks pay, Her side door entrance to QT tells. - Swan knew yesterday so did the indys. As these things are always organised by people outside the parliment. Swanns outragous remarks yesterday in QT make sence now.. It was his last ever chance to have a go and he knew it...

Commenter

CWitty

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:15PM

Australia wants to vote Julia out. It is the only way the country can heal and move on. We have nothing left, don't take this away from us! Please leave Julia at the helm so we can push her onto her sword!!

If Rudd gest the nod over Julia, then be very afraid, as there is a very good chance that he will win the election. He would only get back in the race if he was 100% confident, so he knows something that noone else does. This country is suffering badly under Labor, and things will only get worse before they get better. Recession next year, more Labor wasteful spending (probably spend another $14 bill fixing up the shoddy workmanship from the BER ) etc. I feel for the Australian public as this whole mess is a joke and we desrve better.

Commenter

Anti Ruddster

Location

Under a rock

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:10PM

yes...and it was Rudd who did all the waste, not Julia....she was very responsible

Commenter

JT

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:15PM

That's what Rudd is counting on, the stupidity of the Australian Electorate. Somehow he thinks screaming school kids in a shopping mall transfers into turning around an approval rating for the ALP to the tune of +30%, he is delusional and he's counting on a large portion of the Australian Electorate being just as, if not more delusional.

Commenter

Fanta Pants

Location

Hong Kong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:54PM

Love the innaccurate reporting of Shorten's position. Is there no attempt to go beyond what you're being fed from the Ruddites? Especially after the reporting of the last spill that never was.

Commenter

Jj81

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:09PM

If Rudd wins that's the end of Labor for decades women voters will desert Labor.I will vote informal in my blue ribbon Liberal electorate

Commenter

donsms1

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:07PM

Democracy in actionThank you for participating.

Commenter

Louis Cypher

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:15PM

If you vote informal, you give up the right to critcise on the government.

Commenter

Steve

Location

Lesmurdie WA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:30PM

Straw Poll

I am a lifelong Labor voter.

I will not vote for Gillard led LaborI will vote for Rudd led Labor

Anyone else?

Commenter

Mark S

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:31PM

I voted for labour in the last election because KR was projected as a PM and not JG. She backstabbed him. First time in more then twenty years Iwill not be voting for labour if JG is leader. In that case I will vote for independent because Tony Abbott is even a bigger calamity.

Commenter

xyz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:06PM

xyz, if you last voted in 2007 then that's ok but in 2010 Julia Gillard went to the election as PM.

I can understand if you're disillusioned, but at least get the sequence of events correct. Gillard PM June 2010, election August 2010, Gillard returned in minority government September 2010 (after the negotiations). At no point has Kevin Rudd been Prime Minister since the last election. At least, not at time of posting

Commenter

kaff

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:49PM

All of the ALP members who are criticising Rudd on smh and elsewhere are playing into the hands of the Tories.

Word of advice: keep quiet until we know the result tomorrow. If Rudd's the PM then support him: that is, unless you want to see Tony Abbott become PM in September.

I sure as hell don't.

Commenter

innerwestchick

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:05PM

A vote for Labor is a vote for the people smugglers.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:14PM

Stephanie, the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce has a long history of public service of the highest ethics and integrity.

Yet the supporters of the Opposition in these columns are implying (because they are too gutless to say outright) that as the mother-in-law of Bill Shorten, she will take into account his political interests in the exercise of her responsibilities.

There is no better example of the way that honest and honourable political discussion has been trashed by this Opposition, its leaders and its supporters than this sheer vicious nastiness.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:04PM

Stop acting like a wet blanket WW, we're all having a day out at the races, just enjoy it while you can.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:13PM

Are you seriously suggesting that if Bill were to some how get up as PM that there is no conflict of interest? Regardless of her ethics and contribution - and I agree they are solid - the optics would be horrible. Perception does matter.

Commenter

brian

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:19PM

I would advise you against making such generalisations based on online commentary. I support the Liberal Party, but I admire the GG and do not believe she would act in an unethical way at all. She is a wonderful person. Why make such generalisations?

Commenter

Bianca

Location

Camden

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:22PM

I am amazed that people put so much trust in the GG. Humans are hardwired to be self-interested, whether or not they are aware or not.

Why the faith in the GG? "Aww, you know. She seems like a top sort, ay!"

Commenter

do you get it?

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:33PM

WW: From another esteemed Fairfax writer:

5. Bill Shorten emerges as a "circuit breaker" leaderAs the mother-in-law of Mr Shorten, the Governor-General would be cornered by a perceived conflict of interest. Ms Twomey said: "The Governor-General would have the trust of the people but the perception of a conflict of interest would be too great. She would probably have to leave the country and appoint Marie Bashir as the governor of the largest state [NSW] to do her job.

Commenter

brian

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:56PM

Do you seriously think the GG will install Abbott as care taker PM and then sit down to dinner with little Billy "where's my pie" Shorten? No way! Not in this lifetime or the next one either!

Commenter

Apollyon

Location

Berwick

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:04PM

Gillard is Gonski.

Unoriginal, I know.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:02PM

Well, you said it.

Commenter

Julie

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:19PM

If they truly believed in their principles and the future of this nation they would end this whole farcical situation and call an election now. Put us all out of our collective misery and get back to focussing on the things that matter ...ensuring that our hospitals are funded, build the infrastructure that we need and managing our debt.

Sadly though self interest and indulgence of oversized egos will mean that we are stuck in this twilight zone for which there seems no end.

Commenter

Dachfi

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:02PM

If they truly believed in their principles and the future of this nation they would get on with reforming education funding, doing something about carbon emissions, and supporting those with disability ... oh yes, they've done that.

Commenter

Robynski

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:33PM

Amazing that Gillard and Rudd are so passionate about wanting to be the Opposition Leader after September. The damage has been done to Labour and they will be decimated at the election - Australians aren't stupid (generally) and don't want such a dyfunctional party in Government. As you said, Abbott just has to sit back and watch it all happen - and will be swept into power with a sizeable majority come September.

Commenter

Dave

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:01PM

Ha, all the scared little Tory's it's fun to watch this. Never read so much rubbish. And to guys like " Commando " well I guess the name speaks for itself. The polling showed Windsor a neck ahead in New England, but hey why let the facts get in the place of a good story. This last three years has surely been the lowest ebb in Australian Politics since Federation. Lemmings to the cliff!

Commenter

JOHN

Location

MCKINNON

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:28PM

Hope your proud of yourselves Labor. This is a disgrace for a Government!

Commenter

Lyn

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:01PM

Don't worry Lyn.

The Gonski package which was passed today should help with YOUR spelling and grammar.

Commenter

FFS

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:21PM

@FFS

"Don't worry Lyn.

The Gonski package which was passed today should help with YOUR spelling and grammar."

..and yet, Lyn is smarter than you. Go figure.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:45PM

But of course Paul June 26, 2013, 10:21AM getting NBN, better education, better Disability support etc that people like Paul would use and that The Liberals helped passed.

But of course The Gillard Government is in rabble and attempting to run this country for the past three years?

Commenter

keith

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:59PM

NBN has not been delivered.. It is ten years away.Better education... hasn't been delivered, show me where.

The disability plan is this governments only true reform.

They havn't run the country. All they have truly worried about is themselves.

Commenter

Steve

Location

Lesmurdie WA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:35PM

Steve:"NBN has not been delivered.. It is ten years away."Actually, given the likely election result, that should be never."Better education... hasn't been delivered, show me where."Well, guaranteed to be cancelled post election also. Abbott has said already he will can Gonski reforms."The disability plan is this governments only true reform."I expect this to be found to be unaffordable post September also.

Commenter

Goresh

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:02PM

Oh no,it will be a disaster if Rudd comes back!!..The media will actually have to focus on POLICIES instead of leaderships!!

Commenter

Steeden

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:57PM

After the next election can we also get rid off the current GG who is sitting pretty watching the country being destroyed by incompetence, stupidity and internal fighting of the Labor apparatchiks. Isn't her duty to make sure that the government acts in the best interest of the country rather than PM spending hours making silly propaganda photos to satisfy the PM ego?

Commenter

Tom

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:57PM

No - her duty is clear from the constitution and convention. She cant dismiss a government who has the confidence of the lower house just because some angry yobbos dont like it

Commenter

Jimmy G

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:15PM

I'm always bemused by "the country being destroyed". In what way? Like Zimbabwe was, or like the sack of Rome? Or maybe we just get so used to hyperbole, personal abuse and political agendas to see that things haven't changed that much in the last decade except that more people have flat screen TVs.

Commenter

Dafydd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:35PM

Tom

Unless there is a no confidence motion put to the parliament and that motion passes, the GG has her hands tie. She can't just sack the Govenment.

Commenter

Steve

Location

Lesmurdie WA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:37PM

I think today will be a good day for Tony Abbott to produce his motion of No Confidence in the government immediately Question Time starts.

Commenter

Rosie

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:56PM

Two problems : (i) Abbott is too cowardly to do this (ii) It would fail

Commenter

Jimmy G

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:12PM

Yes, go for it Tony, let's have the election now, then we can get on without all this distraction for three more months.

Commenter

Norm

Location

Maroubra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:18PM

Three problems: 3. Abbott's not silly enough to get involved whilst the Labor party is very effectively destroying itself.

Commenter

Sammy B

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:29PM

You expect the loser to vote they have confidence in the winner? Abstain and the house of cards falls down

Commenter

Peterwalker58

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 7:02PM

Would Abbott be crazy enough to go for a no-confidence motion in Question Time ?

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:56PM

Is it possible to put a return to top of page button underneath the comment window? It would be much appreciated.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:56PM

@Altered

Sure, no problem.

Commenter

Sanjit in IT

Location

457 Visas R Us

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:19PM

457 is a disaster. The employers including govt corporations have abused it while local people remain unemployed.

Commenter

xyz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:55PM

Get real where is the evidence of so called abuse. The Minister even admitted to exaggerating the so called "abuse" of the process. This is just a smoke screen to cover the fact that retail and manufacturing sectors have been decimated over the last three years.. just have a look at the number of closures that have occurred over the last twelve months.

Commenter

Dachfi

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:13PM

I work in IT industry and I see abuse of 457 visa everyday.There is no shortage of IT skills here. There positions are being take up by overseas professionals :http://www.zdnet.com/au/gillard-slams-it-industry-for-457-visa-abuse-7000012579/

Commenter

itp

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:48PM

Julia should stand her ground. It is vitally important for the people of Australia that she gets kicked out at the ballot box. Then the healing can begin.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:54PM

Rudd supporters wanting him as Labor Leader is translated to say they want The Liberals in Government and Abbott as PM.

Commenter

keith

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:53PM

Keith, I think an Abbott govt is inevitable now. With Rudd, the ALP will have 60 MHRs.... with Gillard the ALP will have 30 MHRs.

Commenter

tom

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:02PM

KEITH, wake up mate. Gillard is handing Abbott government on a platter.

Commenter

EA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:15PM

the first thing Rudd did on becoming Prime Minister was help the pensioners out..they have for the most forgotten..10 years of Howard..no help there..surely they will remember Rudd with respect and affection...i know i do

Commenter

dieseldoc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 5:13PM

If Rudd gets in, opportunity for the Coalition to replace Abbott with Turnbull then the majority of the electors will get to vote for who they want. Even ALP voters see Malcolm as preferred PM. After this ALP soap opera who would have any faith in their ability to lead a nation? It's a pity because Gillard is a better PM than Rudd ever was, Gary Gray was right about that. But their achievements have been invisible because of the ego competition going on here. The true tragedy of the ALP is that they can only see the PM being one or the other. I hope they prove capable of something better and a third person nominates to allow them to vote for neither.

Commenter

Bronwyn

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:52PM

I doubt it. The Labor branding is toxic under Gillard or Rudd and it's too late for even little Kev to change that. Plus he'll be inheriting a fractured party.

No need for the Libs to lower themselves into the fracus, they can still just coast through to the finish line.

Commenter

mtown

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:06PM

Bronwyn, why would the Lib's dump TA. He has led them brilliantly to the cusp of government. When MT was leader Labor was ahead 60-40.

Commenter

mh

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:17PM

Simple MH. The suggestions are that if Rudd gets back he may get closer to the 50%, or at the very least prevent adisaster for LP. But if Turnbull is Coalition leader then the victory will be as great against Rudd as Abbott will be against Gillard. Don't forget that Turnbull was voted by ALP supporters as the PM they'd most like to have.

Commenter

Bronwyn

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:32PM

Exactly Bronnie! Thats why you stick with TA. You don't elect who your opp wants. You elect who your supporters want. Dont get me wrong I am a massive MT fan but TA has earnt it.

Commenter

mh

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:18PM

Abbott is not all that popular, he's just more popular than Gillard. If you were a party strategist, why wouldn't you put in Turnbull with a 60% plus approval rating and get a pretty much certain 2 terms as opposed to Abbott who will only be assured of 1 term? If they don't bring back Turnbull it will still need a miracle for them to lose, but Abbott is still a liability. At the moment the 'Drovers Dog' will win. If I were Coalition my druthers would still be maximise the win with Turnbull. They are fools if they don't.

Commenter

Bronwyn

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:39PM

Rob Oakeshott said this morning on ABC radio that he is not interested in personalities.

Neither Kevin Rudd nor Tony Abbott has elicited any policy positions for consideration of his support.

Fran Kelly continued on about leadership issues and he said, you have not listened to me, I am not interested in personalities, if someone wants my support then provide me with details of your vision for the country and what you are going to do to get there.

Both Kevin and Tony have shown that they are interested only in the power attached to the Prime Minister's role. To them it is only about the status that will attach to them if they are in that role.

Neither man is deserving of being Prime Minister and both would do us all a favor if they resigned.

Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott should be acknowledged for their courageous behavior and achievements over the past three years.

Well done guys and good luck for the future.

Commenter

fairdinkum

Location

NSW

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:52PM

Spot on....glad to hear somebody else knows what's going on rather than listening to all this populist dribble.

Commenter

JT

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:02PM

So true! I cannot believe the sheep mentality of Australians who are willing to support poor old dejected Kevin Rudd with their pity vote.

He's an egomaniac , equally rivalled by Tony Abbott. They both should be ashamed of their behaviour.

I hope they both disappear from our Parliament very soon. The country will be better for it.

Commenter

Game of Thrones

Location

Country NSW

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:20PM

Rob Oakshot likes the sound of his own voice. Has he actually spokent to either Kevin or Tony, I doubt it. ANd he is only quiting because he knows he would get towled at ballot for supporting a self centred, self destructing Labor party.

He is a coward

Commenter

Steve

Location

Lesmurdie WA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:40PM

I cannot think of a more undeserving leader and thus PM than Mr Rudd;. If we want our leader of our proud nation to be so self focused and devious as this man then by all means vote for him.

Why trust the ALP when the only reason that they will change leaders (if they do) is to save their seats. If they were a functional team, they would be reelected without all this commotion.

A headless chook would be a better choice for PM than this Labor mob.

Commenter

James

Location

Kootingal

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:52PM

Only Kevin Rudd can save us from a calamity called Tony Abbott. He is like a bull in the china shop. Julia Gillard is stubborn and destroying the labour party after destroying the financial health of the coutry.

Commenter

xyz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:51PM

Rudd has destroyed the labor party. He has used every tactic to white ant it for the last 3 years because he stood down instead of taking it to a spill. He has a serious case of sour grapes and wants to ruin it for everyone else.

Commenter

Chinpy

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:55PM

Have you been completely oblivious to what the rest of the world is experiencing? Time and again commentators from overseas and some here in Oz have said we have an economy that the rest of the 1st world would die for, but people like you swallow this ridiculous line over and again that we are in trouble. While there may be difficulties ahead, as we aren't immune to markets around the globe, we have done brilliantly during and psot GFC. You may not like Gillard but stop misrepresenting what state we are in.

Commenter

Kerry

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:10PM

The financial health of the country is terrific compared to other developed countries. The counter view is a myth constantly being spun by conservatives and repeated by ignorant electors.

Commenter

Charlie Zero

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:21PM

Kerry

You are so wrong. Our economy is in tatters. Only the mining sector is in the black. The rest of it is in the red. Ofcourse other countries would be evious because they are in a worse condition.

There are economies out there in far better shape then ours and they don't own the world a cent.

Stop looking through labor coloured glasses and do some research!

Commenter

Steve

Location

Lesmurdie WA

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:44PM

"Meanwhile the government's education reforms - which change the ways schools are funded - have just passed the Senate."

And therein lies the problem. The great work of this parliament, is lost in the white noise.

The media is to blame, for fanning the flames of a story that was extinguished twice before.

Commenter

YeahNah

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:50PM

A pity when bold reforms are barely noticed because of static over leadership. The business of government isn't sexy enough for the media, everything now has to be a contrived relaity show with faux-villains and contestants being voted off.

Commenter

Cap'n Morgan

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:00PM

Yep, past in how many minutes? That's Labor style democracy for you?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:13PM

Is there such a thing as a kangaroo parliament?

Commenter

Megan

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:50PM

So Rudds reward for 3 years and 6 months of white-anting the leader of his party is to be given the Prime Ministership - amazing.

I wonder if Krudd is expecting the same loyalty he has shown.

Commenter

kp

Location

brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:49PM

The same that was shown him back in 2010 when he was ambushed

Commenter

GJS

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:55PM

It's called karma, or payback for the knife sticking out his back. You reap what you sow.

Commenter

Bacchus

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:55PM

She has had plenty of clear air to get her message over kp but no one is listening anymore. She is a poor communicator who has made too many bad calls even if she has made made some good ones. Rudd may have been disloyal to her but she was the first one to be disloyal. He deserved better from her also.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:01PM

Just saying, she threw the first dagger so per say. As much as our political system is based on Westminster tradition, it really is an American styled presidential thing to the public - and the knifing of a current standing leader was the worst thing Labor could of ever done.

Commenter

Jacob

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:09PM

Personally I think Gillard is right: it is all to do with the sexist attitude of those MEN?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:46PM

Men Rule , Women knit- it is the nature of things

Commenter

gc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:05PM

Agree Pen of hrba

Commenter

Melinda-Lee

Location

Auckland New Zealand

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:05PM

Well , one way or another , Abbott's world's longest dummy spit is coming to an end , and despite his best efforts, he has not been able to wreck the reform program

Commenter

Jimmy G

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:46PM

I think Krudd has had a longer dummy spit - 3 years and 6 months.

Abbott has now taken down two PM's, while keeping a united and focussed front bench. Abbott is the rson to lead Australia.

Commenter

kp

Location

brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:06PM

Does this slow motion train wreck ever end. It is as if the primary intention of Rudd and Gillard is to destroy the Labor party as a viable entity in Australian politics. I suspect most Australians abhore both these egomaniacs.

Commenter

Jollyjumbuck

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:44PM

Petition...what petition? Maybe the media should officially run the country? A referendum anybody?

Commenter

JT

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:43PM

So who can trust who now?

Can Rudd trust Shorten --sure !!!!!!Can Shorten trust Rudd- Sure!!!!

Can voters trust Shorten after stabbing Two PM's now?--sure!!!

Can voters trust Rudd given his deplorable behaviour --sure!!!

What a rabble, what a bunch of self serving twitsALP voters should be embarrassed for being taken for such fools

Commenter

paulk

Location

melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:43PM

Will the GG keep her son-in-law in the job or not?

Commenter

brian

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:41PM

Is anyone running the country?

Commenter

EJ10011

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:39PM

Same as it has been since 2010 - NO !

Commenter

gc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:42PM

Yes I am, and Hacka is 2IC,

so you can all relax now.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:43PM

Yes, Stephanie is!

Thanks Stephanie.

Commenter

Sharron

Location

The Land of Rudd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:47PM

Rightyo. First order of business is to ban all red underpants and Springsteen albums.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:51PM

Certainly. I'm ready to man the b......t meter.

Commenter

Louis Cypher

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:08PM

If Rudd fails, he should be expelled from the Labor party.

Commenter

YeahNah

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:38PM

yes and make it effective immediately ...

Commenter

juileep

Location

sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:51PM

Rudd has clean hands on this one His supporters are pushing his barrow I am waiting for the dead cat bounce no matter what the outcome

Commenter

Peterwalker58

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:02PM

Yep, let's aim for zero seats after the election. Genius !!

Commenter

Baysider

Location

Sandgate

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:03PM

Good idea..then we could have an election, stat.

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:32PM

I'm a Labor voter or was, they have just lost me with this latest shamozzel. B.....Rudd, and Ms Gillard are both wasting my time and that of the country, time Abbott went for a no confidence in Government and dissolved parliament, time for a double dissolution.

Commenter

Poor show

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:03PM

I want Julia to remain as PM until the election in September. Then I want to be able to roll up to my polling booth wearing my blue tie to vote her government out

Commenter

Steve F

Location

MNC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:38PM

You and 11,000,000 others I would hope!

Commenter

Liberator

Location

SEQLD

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:49PM

Steve, I don't know where MNC is, but unless its somewhere near Werribee or Altona, ie within the boundary of the seat of Lalor, you don't have much chance of voting against her. You can only vote against the Labor candidate in your electorate.

Commenter

Lippy Queen

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:53PM

Speak for yourself Liberator. Not for me. I'm not a Liberal voter sheep.

Commenter

pol

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:03PM

This is just stupidity. Whatever Labor thinks they will gain by ousting Gillard for Rudd will be lost in the Gillard supporters vote, of which there are many, many thousands. Especially women. I'm sure The rAge and Australian are congratulating themselves mightily for engineering this whole disaster. The whole lot of them are pathetic, including this paper.

Commenter

Code Red

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:36PM

Really? You believe anyone still supporting Gillard through this farcical state of affairs will be voting Liberal? They'll be voting Labor regardless. The aim is to secure the additional votes that Gillard has lost, and Rudd stands to bring to the party. If this works, and if Labor wins the next election, I'm moving back to NZ.

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:00PM

So Code Red you think that Labor women voters are going to vote against Rudd even if that means Abbott wins ?

I agree CodeRed - this kind of farce is what comes of having a right-wing press monopoly in this country. Abbott gets a free ride all the way to the election - no media scrutiny of his right-wing policies ever, zip. The press just report whatever Labor-bashing vitriole they are fed by the Tories....but then they would wouldn't they, they know who's paying their wages. If Australians vote for Tory Tony and his Cronies they'll be the laughing stock of the world. Hey, they voted this bloke in even though he's promised them nothing, except to take Australia back to the 19th Century and derail any progressive policies put in place by the Labor Party. The Libs represent the interests of the privileged few and you far-from-privileged suckers are going to vote for them?? Wake up people. Elections should be about policies not personalities.

Commenter

MikeS

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 6:05PM

Truly pathetic. I cannot believe anyone would vote for these idiots.

I like the Labor party's policies but they are a bunch of clowns.

Commenter

Dirk

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:34PM

@Dirk

You like their border protection policies?

Commenter

Malik the magic sheep

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:01PM

Malik, their border policy stinks but no more or less than your rabble who set it up in the first place. I look forward to the utter failure of Morrison and your acknowledgement and apology of same.

Commenter

eyeroll

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:19PM

No Malik. I missed using the word "some", as in some of their policies NDIS etc

Commenter

Dirk

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:07PM

So Rudd thinks he has Shorten in his pocket, what if Shorten is fibbing? Only a vote will spell the truth.

Commenter

Kick

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:32PM

Interesting comment Kick. The look on Shortens face in 1.26 is very ambiguous. It really could be one of 'Got you!' for sure. I hope not, Rudd unfortunately is Labor's only chance of avoiding political annihilation in September.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:53PM

What's happened to all the lefty claims that there is no leadership tension that it's all a figment of the mind of the Murdoch press?Only a very small minority of Australians want this incompetent lot but that minority sure have loud voices.

Commenter

killerbee

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:32PM

Perhaps "the lefty clowns "are waiting for a petition to be written or indeed any evidence there is a move against PM Gillard and its not just more of conservative Gov drivel

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:43PM

Spot on!

Commenter

Lyn

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:43PM

Small minority?The ALP received 50.1% of the two-party vote across Australia at the last election and the coalition 49.9%. That may not have translated to a majority of seats, but just over half of the country voted them in. (I wasnt one of them)

Commenter

Big Noddy

Location

Glebe

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:57PM

In the Live Coverage photo Kevin Rudd appears to be very indecisive or is he just sublimating a sudden urge for wax morsel?

Commenter

Arthur McKenzie

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:30PM

What's the betting that it all happens during State of Origin? Mr Waterhouse, odds please!

Commenter

Neale

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:30PM

I really want to upload a Jaws sound file into the comments...haha

Commenter

Comedian

Location

NSW

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:30PM

I want to see labor totally wiped out at the election, dont take away our joy.

Commenter

please keep gillard

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:28PM

There's no reason why we can;t still make that happen

Commenter

Onno

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:16PM

Word has it that Unions are threatening to cancel pre-selection of those who vote for Rudd. Also that Gillard will deny a secret ballot so the Union bosses can see who votes for who. Pretty disgusting if true.

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:27PM

Perhaps its only a manufactured crisis the LNP have a habit of inventing stupid facts that turn out to be nothing but their imagination see Gresch and Slipper

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:46PM

Who's word? yours?

Commenter

AustraliaFirst

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:50PM

Wow, this is getting to be like Italy. What's the bet we are going to have 3 or maybe 4 prime ministers in the one year? Bunga, bunga fellow Wooorking Australians!

Commenter

Arthur McKenzie

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:21PM

Yes, never mind the fact that we have had three years of stable government with more legislation passed than in the last Howard term, and never mind the fact that we have one of the best performing economies in the Western World, let's focus on nonsense in the last week of parliament which may or not come to anything.

Commenter

Cameron

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:44PM

As a Liberal supporter, my ideal outcome from all this nonsense would be that a) there is a spill or challenge; and b) Gillard wins it by only a small margin but refuses to resign. Landslide election win to Coalition locked in! Sadly, even the Labor caucus are not stupid enough to allow that to happen. Or are they?

Commenter

AdamC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:20PM

How appropriate if not highly coincidental that 2 of the independents have announced that they won't be standing at the next election within hours before the petition is being circulated....talk about the rats deserting the sinking ship, unfortunately they gnawed over a billion dollars in special ransom deals while they facilitated this charade of a governing party

Commenter

Stella

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:19PM

Do I have to keep saying it? Tony Windsor got it wrong. We don't have a carbon tax, we have a price on carbon, which is exactly what Julia Gillard said when she stated before the 2010 election, “There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead, but lets be absolutely clear. I am determined to price carbon”.

Commenter

Mr Duck

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:18PM

Mr Duck,

Julia Gillard herself admitted it was a tax!

Commenter

notlad

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:38PM

Just like we don't have income tax - we have a price on our income instead.

Commenter

Tera

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:38PM

Give up Mr Duck - haters gotta hate.

Commenter

The Banker

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:40PM

Oh that is all right then? We have Gillard ripping us off with the most inefficient green energy available to the benefit of increased coal production and the mining industry because of a carbon price and not a carbon tax.

Had breakfast today have we?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:42PM

Ok, it's a 'price on carbon' that business have to pay to the government. Sure sounds like a tax by definition, or is this another word in the dictionary that the PM would like changed?

tax [tæks]n1. a compulsory financial contribution imposed by a government to raise revenue, levied on the income or property of persons or organizations, on the production costs or sales prices of goods and services, etc.

Commenter

Indeed

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:44PM

Gillard said it's a tax - who are you to say otherwise?

Commenter

Rodrigo

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:57PM

Indeed, it sounds like a Levy to me.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:21PM

Mr. Duck, It appears you have selective amnesia. Julia Gillard DID NOT say that she would introduce price on carbon. She promised to establish 'citizens assembly' whose responsibility would be to 'bring along' the electorate. She promised NOT TO introduce price on carbon until she gets support from the electorate.

O, be some other name!What's in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.

Commenter

Indeed

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:41PM

In economic terms, there are differences between taxes and levies. And we don't actually have a tax, regardless of what anyone tells you. It's a levy limited to 500 companies.

And as for promising to organise a community consultative process and then calling it off, then you're right. She did promise that. But really - if that's the only promise she broke, I can live with that. The fact is that the Liberal ETS policy was very simple and effective. When Labor stole it, the Libs went for the big wasteful spending option instead. And that's what we'll have soon instead of a market-led solution. Too bad!

Commenter

Mr Duck

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:59PM

Thanks for your economical analysis Mr Duck, but I still stand by my above replies. You call it what you want, if only to justify a lie to the Australian Public.

Commenter

Indeed

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:07PM

So that means all those Levies that Tony plans to introduce are actually taxes then? How downright duplicitous!

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:09PM

@Indeed You think that the current leader of the opposition won't tell porkies either? Remember that he said not to believe anything he didn't put down in writing. And the previous Lib PM, who liked to talk about core and non-core truths? It's not like the PM has led us into foreign wars or economic catastrophe based on lies either. I can live with the cancellation of a people's assembly. She stated the policy direction and she went through with it.

Commenter

Mr Duck

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:24PM

That line. "“There will be no carbon tax under a government I lead, but lets be absolutely clear. I am determined to price carbon” is pure fiction. She never qualified her promise that there would be no tax under any government she led. Her spin doctors have combined different statements made at different times.

Commenter

MattPP

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:30PM

Really? Her spin doctors are pretty good then.She said it in multiple different ways prior to the election, and on the evening before the election, she said she considered the 2010 election to be a mandate on a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. I think she was pretty clear. I only wish the Libs had introduced it - it's good policy. Much better than the current big spending, big taxing LIb policy. If they went back to an ETS they'd get my vote.

Commenter

Mr Duck

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 4:06PM

I say, Bob Carr looks a little stressed.

Commenter

Sharron

Location

The Land of Rudd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:18PM

So sick & tired of all of this. If K Rudd gets back in then Labor lose my vote due to their indecision, backbiting and following polls rather than governing. And get over it people, WE DO NOT VOTE FOR OUR PRIME MINISTER, that would be called a republic and you all voted against that!!

Commenter

dlg

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:17PM

Correct, we do not vote for a PM, we vote for a political party. But Australian's have always looked to our PM as the leader of that party & in that, all of Australia. We have seen from the last 3 years that our PM has not lead her party well, has not conveyed her message, & has allowed a myriad of political bungles under her watch. There are lingering issues with how she got the job off a sitting PM, & then how she had to go about to keep it with her side deals at the last election. So yes, we do not vote for a PM, but if you have issues with who leads, then you have issues with the party for choosing that leader.

Commenter

Indeed

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:00PM

Just read over what you wrote one more time...

Commenter

Cap'n Morgan

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:08PM

We certainly did not vote for Gillard and Co!

Commenter

Liberator

Location

SEQLD

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:10PM

I am a labor supporter, but if Rudd win today or tomorrow ballots, I do agree Tony windsor and Oakeshotts to side with Tony Abbot.

Commenter

jeff5555

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:16PM

I would not stand if I was Kevan Rudd prior to the election. Let the current leader and buch of ministers take the blame for the obvious loss. In fact, ministers whp put the boot into rudd will lose their seats which is great. Then Rudd could lead what is left of the Labor party in opposition. I say this as a Labor voter. Politics is now so dissapointing to most people as we never seem to discuss policies.

Commenter

Tecka

Location

melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:11PM

Are there any photos we can see showing Shorten and Burke conferring with Rudd as it looks as if they are just leaving in 12.51? Rudd is looking unbearably smug. I guess the price of having to watch that again will be worth having Labor back in the race and Gillard gone.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:11PM

I thought there were only these types of leadership changes in countries like Italy and tin-pot regimes.

Welcome to the new Australia.

Commenter

Growler

Location

The Couch

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:09PM

No, happens in robust democracies such as ours as well. Remember when Tony Abbott gave Malcolm Turnbull the boot?

Commenter

RAD61

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:25PM

Oh, Turnbull was a first term sitting Prime Minister was he? And now we are doing exactly the same thing, with the same people again? A reasonable comparison - I think not.

Commenter

Rex Mundi

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:41PM

The precedent was set when Gorton was dumped after winning his only election.

Come to think of it the Coalition and Conservative politicians have a long history of unstable leadership since Menzies. Holt, all at sea, McMahon did Gorton, Fraser did Snedden, Peacock and Howard did each other, Downer did Hewson, Howard did Downer, Malcolm did Brendan, Tony did Malcolm. The only thing that stopped Peter was he had no ticker.

Even prior to the Liberals Menzies got done, Joe Lyons was lucky he died and Hughes was even done by Bruce after he turned Conservative. What is to say this will stop.

Conservatives and Liberals are obviously more concerned about getting to be leader than actually doing anything while there. McMahon was once asked what politics was about and he replied "its about getting power", he had nothing to say about what happens where you attain it.

I think a challenge from Malcolm will be more than likely.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:54PM

Denied the right to select a Government now Denied the Right to throw Oakshott and Windsor out. Not Happy Jan

Commenter

Just Sayin

Location

Adelaide

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:08PM

Well you were denied the right to throw Windsor and Oakeshott out anyway simply because you can only vote in one electorate ;)

Commenter

BS Man

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:25PM

Unless you're registered to vote in New England or Lyne, you don't have the option to throw out Windsor or Oakeshott.

Commenter

JoLoGo

Location

New England

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:28PM

And to think Bill Shorten's mum in-law gets to decide the outcome in the end.

Australia, the democracy you have when you're barely having one.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:07PM

What are the chances that Bill might put his hand up to thwart Rudd ?

That'd brighten things up a bit .

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:11PM

I'd rather Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Turnbull or just about anyone before Bill Shorten.

No, SteveH, she gets to make decisions that are required by the Australian Constitution in a constitutional way.

Your post exemplifies the sleaziness of the Opposition that has dragged political discourse into the gutter. You don't refer to the Governor-General by name or by post, but by reference to her son-in-law.

You do not have the courage to explicitly allege that she would take her son-in-law's political interests into account, but you leave it out there by the clear implications in your post.

Sickening.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:48PM

At least all this makes Australian politics a little more interesting.

Commenter

Uninspired first time voter

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:05PM

Where have you been for the last 3 years and 1 day?

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:15PM

I can think of a few more measures that would make it even more interesting - do we still have the set of 'Gladiators' handy? What about "It's a Knockout'?

Commenter

fleetfox

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:35PM

It's the ALP killing off their two least favoured leaders.

If Gillard get's crushed this week, then it will be a very short run before Rudd get's crushed at the election.

Only a true ego driven fool would put himself forward for such a fall..... or someone with a god complex that is so drunk on his perception of his own popularity that he can't believe he will fail.

Either way....NOT what the ALP or Australia deserve in a PM.

Commenter

Oz

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:58PM

Whatever, Oz!

We didn't deserve 3 years of gillard either.

Commenter

Sharron

Location

The Land of Rudd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:05PM

Rudd a least favoured leader? He's the only one that can save us from Abbott.

Commenter

Jen

Location

Earth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:07PM

@Jen.... oh dear.... and then what would happen.... how long until the ALP sacked him again?

Do you really see Rudd winning an election? I don't.

Commenter

Oz

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:13PM

Its too late. I support Rudd, but he needs to leave this one alone.

Commenter

aceme

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:00PM

If he wins ballot and loose election he will be saying that what happened is Gillards fault, and caucus's, he should have been reinstated long ago.I am sure ALP would not be in such a predicament as it is today...What a spineless looser ALL in ALP party are.

Commenter

sedona

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:17PM

Joe Hockey has tweeted that Labor are focused on their own jobs rather than Aussie jobs. So why are the LNP not supporting much needed changes to the 457 visa system, which has imported personnel competing against locals and putting downward pressure on wages in Australia

Commenter

Andrew

Location

Melican

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:58PM

Because its not really a problem and labor are only doing it to please the unions. That is all labor have done for the last 3 years and they wonder why they are on the nose.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:17PM

Umm - because what's put up is obviously a dog whistling campaign? Unless of course we are aiming to save Canberra based spin doctors from UK imports?

Commenter

null

Location

Logan

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:22PM

Why do they not support changes - because Gina does not support changes and the puppet cannot make moves without the master!

Commenter

Mark

Location

melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:29PM

Actually it is a serious problem and becoming increasingly worse. What does "just to please the unions" mean? What about the concept of government representing Australian people trying to earn a living?

Commenter

Andrew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:32PM

What a dumb comment...,..do you understand the 457 bill is out more red tape for business and more union control???

Commenter

paul

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:34PM

Yawn. This whole "[Insert ethnic/migrant group here] are taking our jobs" schtick is discredited nonsense. Hey, maybe Labor could preselect Pauline Hanson for the seat of Lyne or New England? At least she is more honest and upfront about her anti-immigration views.

Commenter

AdamC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:50PM

Andrew the reasons most 457 workers arrive is because an Australian didn't want to do the job or an Australian hasn't bothered to train themselves to do the job. The job would be available to an Australian if they bother to apply or get some education. I don't mean to sound harsh but 457 workers are not a problem, they are actually helping in the most part to provide services that an Aussie didn't want to do or we don't have enough Aussie's capable of doing to meet the demand required for that service.

Commenter

Tired Camel

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:51PM

This is is not about anti-immigration. It is about having workers side by side being paid highly different rates for similar work. Someone renegotiating a work contract can have an employer saying that they have others willing to work for much lower rates. I understand the role that 457 workers can play if a real gap exists but the system can be used to bring down wages. An employer can advertise at a much lower than market rate and then say that no one is available to do the job. It would be fine if there was close to full employment but that seems to be no longer the case.

Commenter

Andrew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:26PM

Andrew, that line may have been credible had the Immigration Minister been able to actually identify a significant number of cases where that was happening. But he failed spectacularly. The reason the government is persecuting 457 visa holders is that the unions, for some reason, want to make it as hard and expensive as possible for employers to use them. However, the whole thing has also become a challenge to previously bipartisan immigration policy in this country. This exercise is among the worst of Gillard's follies.

Commenter

AdamC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 3:05PM

Oh the sweet irony... I wonder if Gillard is about to experience a metaphorical knife in her back like she gave to Rudd.

Commenter

Shmock

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:58PM

As i understand the system, if Rudd rolls Gillard & the independents do not support Rudd, this will allow Abbott to go to the Govenor General with a motion of no confidence in Labor ability to Govern without a majority, this will mean the Govenor G will have to disolve Parliament & ask Abbott to form a new Government, a dilema for the G.G.as her daughter is married to Bill Shorten, why would Rudd challenge so close to Parliament closing until the elections ?

Commenter

Geen

Location

Moss Vale

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:58PM

Let's see how the Independents react! I'm guessing it was a bluff, and Rudd knows it!

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:09PM

Turnbull to switch parties, be elected unapposed as PM and beat Abbott at election. You know it makes sense.

Commenter

kcabotkcab

Location

Mlebourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:57PM

kcabotkcabCould not agree more, even if Turnbull stayed in the Liberal camp he would be more preferable than Abbott

Commenter

Geen

Location

Moss Vale

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:09PM

We could only hope.

Commenter

Dropbear

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:10PM

Oh, how I dream of this!

Commenter

HC

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:12PM

Yes, Turnbull with all his LNP values would fit well in the Labor party room. Seriuously, Turnbull is less of a messiabh than most would think

Commenter

Jitterry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:17PM

The only problem is that Turnbull has a brain and would not want to be associated in anyway to a bh of unprincipled incompetents like labor.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:19PM

Love it!

Commenter

Miss Ward

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:46PM

crazy but it would work for the voters

would work for Malcolm too, I think the only reason he didn't join the ALP is because he didn't fit into any faction, takes a very strong minded person to be unaligned, only one I know of was Button

Commenter

havasay

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:49PM

Please, Kevin Rudd oust julia gillard!!

Commenter

Sharron

Location

The Land of Rudd

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:57PM

Is that pic at 12.51 of Rudd digging for votes?

Commenter

brian

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:55PM

12.51. Now that is an interesting photo!

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:55PM

We need Kevin to save us from Abbott, that's all there is to it.

Without Kevin, we'll have a climate change denying mining puppet carving up the north end for the sake of a few mining dollars, the benefits of which we'll never see.

Go Kev!!

Commenter

sarajane

Location

melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:54PM

@sarajane, why dont you save the environment by turning off your computer, not driving a car and sittting in the dark.

Thats right because labor gave you your carbon tax payout, meaning you are one of the people not experiecing the rising utility costs.

Commenter

Dave

Location

Coogee

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:15PM

and where's your compo Dave of Coogee, are you saying you didn't get it ?

Oh my god now there's another Abbott slogan

- This government can't be trusted to give compo to LNP supporters, worse governement ever

Commenter

havasay

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:43PM

Now tell us how Labor's climate change works by increasing coal production from 220 - 500 million tonnes with growth projections of 800 million tonnes by 2017.

One tonne of coal produces 2.86 tonnes of CO2, Current Australians coal production of about 500 million tonnes X 2.86 = 1.430 billion tonnes of CO2, 800 million tonnes of coal production equals 2.288 billion tonnes of CO2.

So tell us about Gillard's climate change policy why don't you Sarahjane?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:59PM

Can we please have a photo of Abbott with a whopping smile on his face?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:01PM

It all smacks of the same level of integrity that gave us Gillard's climate change. It does not work, it never will work, it is not cost effective, it is insufficient and supports the opposition that is the coal industry?

Commenter

Pen of hrba

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:11PM

Picture of Rudd, with his a part of his new cabinet

Commenter

Jitterry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Adios Swan, Conroy, Garrett.

You made your beds and now your Beds are Burning.

Swan - no more Glory Days.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:59PM

And no more red undies for Conroy

Commenter

thereisnoyouinLabor

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:03PM

No, nothing happening! It's just media and LNP beat-up, as always!

Isn't it?????

Commenter

beasleyst

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Of course it is! The media is creating all this turmoil out of virtually nothing! Easy to see most are pro Abbott thanks to their owner ;)

Commenter

Kathy

Location

South Coast

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:26PM

Has Rudd found a backbone, or will he burn his backers again ?

An open vote will obviously split the party pretty badly, who knows what will be left by Friday.

Commenter

Hacka

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

I'll go for the burn on this one ... If he doesn't get chucked out I think he sees himself as the white knight on horseback riding in to rebuild the ALP post SEP 14. Mind you I wouldn't take bets on my political skills ;)

Commenter

mick_doe

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:10PM

What has Bill Shorten been up to in the last week? A very quiet nothing from him. It has all been Emerson, Conroy, Albanese and other Gillard backers but nothing from the playmaker. Too quiet for me. So has he been shut out as stated or planning his own move?

Commenter

Paul

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Having tea with his mother-in-law to make sure she doesn't pull the plug on his friends in the government?

Commenter

Salvador Dalek

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:03PM

Gee, Harvey, with supporterrs like you no wonder Jules is in trouble!

Commenter

DLB

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Remember Kerrs cur !

Commenter

Geen

Location

Moss Vale

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:20PM

At last they are moving! Going to be very interesting all around.

Commenter

Altered

Location

Esperance

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:49PM

I have watch Tony Windsor and Rob Oakshott since those 17 days of decision. I have admired them at every step— their ability to sure foot it through the jungle has been amazing. Their moral compass has been unerring and the bull shit meter near perfect. They don't represent me but they have set an example of Parliamentary behaviour and clear thinking and working for the community as a whole as well as their constituents which is exemplary. Congratulations guys, you deserve your pensions; have a good life!

Commenter

sangela

Location

wollongong

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:49PM

Everyone on the left admires the. Why not? They betrayed their electorates and installed an unprincipled immoral woman as PM. The important thing there is that she is a woman. Progressives love it. The fact that the country is in far worse shape thanks to her incompetence is neither here nor there.

The labor pendents have done their job and should be remembered as labor heros.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:31PM

Yes well done you two , thanks for giving us this great government lol.enjoy retirement and please do not come back

Commenter

SG

Location

Perth

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:17PM

As a Labor Party voter, Kevin Rudd should never have been removed as PM and I believe the party would not have been in this predictament. They now must put him back in as PM otherwise the party will be decimated at the election.

Commenter

hotpie

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:49PM

I think now all voters of Australia now agree with men of great reason & intelligence such as Bolt, Akerman, Jones & Henderson etc. Carbon tax is going away on Sept 14 to be replaced with nothing. Shame that Obama did not listen to the Australian Greats such as Bolt, Akerman, Jones etc.

Commenter

F&F Man

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:48PM

Obama is clever -- he'll get the credit for trying to 'stop global warming' even though he knows the Republican Congress will block his proposals and he'll never have to face up to their abject failure as Gillard did.

Commenter

JonJ

Location

Blaxland

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:18PM

If you support the people who formed the minority government, I urge you to watch the interviews with Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor on ABC Lateline recently. I think the independents did a fantastic job in this parliament. This has been a parliament that has achieved much for the future of the nation.THE MEDIA SHOULD HANG THEIR HEADS IN SHAME.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:47PM

Its all your fault Steph, apparently.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:59PM

I'll guarantee whose fault it is not. Knit 1 , pearl 2, Spin 3.

Commenter

Louis Cypher

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:05PM

@Louis best post of the day! A Pearler

Commenter

gc

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:59PM

Good luck PM Rudd.

I hope this vile wrong can be righted and the will of the people respected.

Commenter

Mark Seaton

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:44PM

There's nonsense, BS, crap and lies in politics. And then there is Tony Windsor and Rob Oakshott. I cant believe all the tripe in these blogs wrtten against these blokes, for the simple reason that they exercised their parliamentary rights and stuck to their guns.The Parliament is a better place for them being there and a poorer place when they leave. Anything else is sour grapes and poor form.

Commenter

The Guru

Location

Lane Cove

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:43PM

Another endorsement from Labor.

I hope Jules gets a few this afternoon.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:45PM

Are you saying The Guru is an ALP spokesperson? How do you know?

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:54PM

Poorer yes - they will live comfortably on their pollie super payouts for the rest of their life, the rest of us have to fund that payout.

Commenter

Paul B

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:05PM

Bob Katter puts the nation ahead of his party and himself, what about you Julia! What else do you need to show that the majority of Australian have turned you off and that the Labor party is going no where with you steering!

Commenter

John of Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:42PM

All Labor politicians do these days is worry about themselves with in-house games.....Since Gillard became PM, they have done nothing....

Commenter

Andrew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:41PM

You mean nothing you liked. I bet you were always picked last for teams.

Commenter

empho

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Totally agree. This is one reason why QT should be removed from the political landscape.

Commenter

No question time

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:57PM

mate, you can criticise the government for a number of things they've done during this parliament, but it's patently ridiculous to criticise them for 'doing nothing'.

Commenter

snag

Location

melb

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:59PM

Actually empho, more often than not I was the captain picking the teams....

Commenter

Andrew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:03PM

@ snag, yes sorry......climate change tax based on doctored research (when the IPCC scientists were asked to prove their findings, their research had been conveniently lost...are there shells in the Himalayas and in the desert?Let's not forget the useless mining tax.The Gonski report is a shambles, so it is health and the asylum situation.I haven't made my mind up about the NBN, but I think it will be too expensive.To me it seems that all Gillard has done is hit my back pocket....one that was empty to start with.I was a Labor supporter, but what I've seen since 2010 has disgusted me.

Commenter

Andrew

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:19PM

Sorry Andrew, you lost me at 'climate change is a massive global conspiracy'.

Those damn pesky scientists are always trying to achieve world domination! Unlike the benevolent right-wing think tanks that fund the sort of bulldust reporting that you quote.

Commenter

snag

Location

melb

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:31PM

So this means that Joyce Barnaby gets a free go at New England, aaggghhhh!

Commenter

islander

Location

the island

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:40PM

BWyou should have a look at local papers ( which can be read online )manningrivertimes, gloucesteradvocate, portstephensexaminer and myallcoastnota to see what is happening in the region between newcastle and port macquarie. oakeshott and winsdor have secured serious funding for their regions. the rest are struggling. Im sure they both have a nice board seat or seven to go to.

Commenter

smilingjack

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:38PM

Let's fact it the 2 party system is failing the people. The answer is more independents and a 3rd party to come to the fore in the HOR. Accountability, flexibility, compromise is actually a good thing.

Commenter

Jitterry

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:37PM

Tony Abbott's strategy of destroying the minority government is an epic fail. Not one no confidence motion - hilarious. You now want to elect him? Oh thats right the media worship campaign of Abbott has been in effect since the 2010 election.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:34PM

The ALP is doing it all by themselves - no help from LNP required

Commenter

Baltic13

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:43PM

Yes .... And thank God he will be leading this country in the near future. A true leader of an intelligent team with integrity, and the nations future the number one priority.

Commenter

Gary

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Tony Abbott a great leader? Are we now turning to humor.He is not even a leader which has been demonstrated on various occasions, when he changes policy on the run and leaves his shadow ministers looking uncomfortable at best and stupid at worst.If the media put Abbott under some scrutiny, we could see how he performs "on the burning deck" as it were.If people are "turned off" by Gillard they at least deserve to hear what Abbott intends to do for our nation.

Commenter

Staz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:56PM

Three leadership spills in three years, I'd say he is the most effective Opposition Leader in a long while...

Commenter

Jonathan C

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:02PM

Sept 14 will determine who is the epic . I'm willng to bet the family farm that its not Abbott.

Commenter

Denny

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:23PM

The independents have made a farce of democracy. They have supported a minority government and in return have received disproportionate funding / attention for their pet projects. Good riddance.

Commenter

Simon

Location

Canberra

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:33PM

What is wrong with the electorate that they could spew the horrific rubbish that passes for comment here?

And has it escaped attention that Windsor would very likely have won again, being way ahead of Barnaby in the polls of New England?

Commenter

Roger

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:32PM

Of course Windsor and Oakeshott could win again and easily. They have taken their fair share of the public purse and people tell me they don't like pork barrelling.

Commenter

Opinion Only

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:44PM

I live in the NewEngland and did not vote for the independents BUT Ihave found Tony Windsor to be the most (if not only) effective FederalMP this electorate has had in the 27years I have been voting and living here. His presence in the electorate was/is immense and considering the distances he has to travel compared to someone in the metropolitan regions, this is saying something. He's regularly seen on the streets of all the centres in this region andhe welcomes all constituents approaching him with their needs and comments. I grew up in the safest seat in the country (in Sydney), never did I see an MP on the streets unless election time, never did I see an MP attenda a community meeting or function. I suggest those who are against Tony cannot see past their blinkered partypolitics and have forgotten what his main job was - to serve his electorate.The only reason Barnaby will win in Sept is because Tony will nolonger be running. Anyonewho tells you different is living in fantasy land - Tony would have won again easily. Today the electorate will sadly recognise that Barnaby will be our next MP. Bring on the CSG eh Barnaby - i'm sure you will argue that you were given a mandate to do so. I guess one positive is that when Barnaby takes over leadership of the NatParty we will know who leads that party and what they stand for....tell me again, who is Warren Truss, what does he look like, what does he stand for , what doeshe do?Good Luck for the future TonyWindsor and know that a lot of people in this country and especially your electorate, recognise what you gave up to serve us in such a dignified and magnificent way.

Commenter

annabel

Location

new england

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:30PM

Another endorsement from Labor.

Commenter

SteveH.

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:42PM

and I have never voted labor either

Commenter

annabel

Location

new england

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:48PM

Well said. A job well done under difficult circumstances. The output from this parliament shows that they made the right decision when they went with the ALP.

SteveH - another comment from you with as much substance as a LNP slogan filled brochure.

Commenter

Rob68

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:59PM

Your job as an elected official in the House of Representatives is to serve the interests of Australia not just those of your electorate....Windsor et al fail on this count.

Commenter

Mikka

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:12PM

I totally agree Mikka and obviously shame on me for presuming that when a representative has a different political view to me that they are still acting in what they think the best interests of the country are.

Commenter

annabel

Location

new england

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 2:14PM

Plus a very large ONE.

Commenter

Whyalla Wipeout

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:24PM

Windsor and Oakeshott must be accountable for their actions...they totally betrayed their electorates and put this hopeless government in power. Good luck to them.....they would have both lost the next election anyway....

Commenter

paul

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:23PM

Polling would suggest you are wrong. Perhaps you feel betrayed but the majority of those that matter do not.

Commenter

tasch2

Location

Mornington Peninsula

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:37PM

Windsor & Oackshott are both cowards. They are a disgrace to their electorates. They are a disgrace to this nation. They should get zero "entitlements".

Commenter

JJ

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:46PM

Ego, ego and ego is the driving force of the 2 independents and they ultimately have to run because they cannot face the humiliation of being judged. They are tainted in the eyes of the vast majority of Australia and can be rightly held responsible for the disrespect people hold parliamentarians. They are no Peter Andren.

Commenter

BluTie

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:19PM

Your (and many others' here) sarcastic, judgemental condemnation of Windsor and Oakshott is pathetic. They have tried their hardest to make decisions not based on single party dogma and rhetoric but on principles and workable outcomes in often vexed issues.

Your mob - specifically Abbott - hasn’t stopped carping about the 2010 outcome. Non-stop whiners for 3 years. Your born-to-rule ethos has resulted in more ugliness, and less focus on what matters, than I have ever experienced in my life.

Well, it seems you’ll get your wish come September, so you’ll be able to shut up. The quiet will be deafening.

But your attitude towards these two men in particular, will forever say more about your (lack of) character and decency than anything I could write here.

Commenter

You must be joking

Location

Sydney

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:50PM

Frankly, there's just a cigarette paper between the policy positions of the Coalition and ALP on anything that really matters. The perceived differences are purely cosmetic. Our media reinforces the notion that we have a real democracy in Australia - but this is a sham. The closest thing we have in this country to genuine diversity of thought is the Independents. While I may not agree with everything they ever say, I admire their courage and the fact that they're not part of the tweedledum / tweedledee faux democracy that the Coalition and ALP represent. I sincerely hope to see more independents elected after after September, despite the media's myopic focus on the Tony and Julia show.

.

Commenter

democratoz

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 1:19PM

Such a shame to see some of the rot written in this column about Windsor and Oakeshott. You can only imagine how hard these guys have worked for their electorates in this parliament. They have acted at all times with honour, principle and decency. I sincerely wish there were 150 Windsors and Oakeshotts to vote for so we could see a real parliament.I wish both of them all the best for their futures.

Commenter

Chris

Location

Kiama

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:19PM

Hear hear!

Commenter

fleetfox

Location

Melbourne

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:41PM

It's a shame they are not leaving today...

The Windsor/Oakeshott show will still continue for a few months yet, and I see Windsor is still making demands...incredible..

They will be seen as the ones who betrayed their electorate and backed the hopeless Gillard govenment...they will be held accountable for that..

Commenter

paul

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

June 26, 2013, 12:44PM

@paul - I struggle to understand that this is what you believe when all objective evidence is to the contrary. It's a blight on political "debate" that such unreasoned vitriol passes as genuine opinion. Can you understand that the Nats have betrayed country electorates for most of the 50 years I have observed politics? I grew up in the country and know how little they have done. These two guys have got things done for their electorates - not just pork barreling, but real things such as infrastructure and educational facilities. You can sneer at the NBN but all you display is your ignorance.As to sneering at these two gentlemen I suggest you may wish to crawl back under the flat rock you describe as home.I promised myself I wouldn't bite at trolls, but there, I've done it. Damn!